Gym sparks gender debate with decision to go co-ed

CTV BC: Closure of workout area prompts outrage A popular Vancouver gym is stirring up a debate with the decision to close a women-only section of its facility.

A popular Vancouver gym is stirring up debate with the decision to close a women-only section of its facility.

The Steve Nash Fitness World on Davie Street told members it will phase out the section over the next few months in a bid to make the gym completely co-ed.

But not all members are happy about the change, and some think going co-ed will divide the sexes even more.

“I think this is a case of Fitness World not treating its women members with dignity and respect,” said member Karen Tankard. “They’re taking our money; they really need to be addressing our needs, as well as the needs of other members. They’re pitting men against women, and that’s not fair to any of us.”

A spokeswoman for the gym said the decision comes down to demographics. Davie Street is considered the epicentre of Vancouver’s gay community.

“In this area of downtown Vancouver we find there’s just not a real need for that [women-only] area,” Brenda Ouellet said. “Most members just want more equipment, more space, they want the most updated equipment, and we’ve got to utilize the space in the facilities to the best of our ability.”

Ouellet said she works out in Fitness World regularly and most female members are comfortable in a co-ed setting in the gym.

“In this day and age, we’re all adults, we know how to share and clean up after ourselves, and I think there’s a lot of respect between the genders,” she said. “I don’t see cat-calling in weight rooms or any of that kind of stuff.”

Some women who spoke to CTV News said they like having a women-only area so they can have access to equipment that might otherwise be tied up by men.

“I don’t have beef with the men in that club, my beef is with Fitness World taking away that small piece of real estate that we have come to enjoy,” Tankard said. “We have been sold memberships on the basis of women-only areas, and now they’re taking it away.”

The club said it has no plans to close women-only areas at other locations, but stands by its decision to make the Davie Street gym co-ed.

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Sheila Scott

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