Iron Energy Gym co-owner Brian Mark declared his refusal to close the doors to a crowd at the front doors of the gym on Jan. 6, 2022.
Image Credit: INSTAGRAM/Cale Fraser
January 06, 2022 - 4:38 PM
A West Kelowna gym that refuses to shut its doors in violation of public health orders has been issued a $2,300 fine, but an online fundraiser has already raised more than enough to pay it.
The fine was handed to Iron Energy Gym today, Jan. 6, as the owners continue to welcome their members inside the facility. West Kelowna RCMP accompanied Interior Health officials to hand the $2,300 fine to its owners.
The gym was also handed an order to close by Interior Health today.
On Dec. 22, a public health order came into effect in B.C. barring most fitness facilities from operating in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
READ MORE: West Kelowna gym's business licence not renewed for violating health orders
The order was made as the highly contagious Omicron variant boosted the spread of the virus across the province, which made up 80% of all confirmed cases by Tuesday, according to the Ministry of Health.
Iron Energy Gym supporters showed up at its doors where owner Brian Mark tore down the closure order from Interior Health. In posts to social media, Mark and the gym's members have complained that gyms should be an essential service because they benefit the mental health of its members.
The City of West Kelowna also declined to renew the gym's business license, according to a statement from the city yesterday.
READ MORE: Smaller communities leading the explosion of COVID cases in Interior Health
Neither Mark nor Iron Energy Gym management could be reached for comment by iNFOnews.ca.
Interior Health has issued five warning letters to separate gyms across its region, but Iron Energy Gym is the only one that has received a fine since Dec. 22.
Kelowna RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Tammy Lobb explained that West Kelowna RCMP was on the scene "to keep the peace and support Interior Health."
READ MORE: Everyone in B.C. will be exposed to Omicron but not everyone has to get sick
"Regional RCMP issues fines at request of Interior Health," she said, adding that there was no additional enforcement actions taken at Iron Energy Gym today.
The online fundraiser for Iron Energy Gym was created on Jan. 1 in anticipation of possible fines from Interior Health. By Thursday afternoon, it had nearly reached $4,000 with a $10,000 goal.
The West Kelowna gym is just one of the fitness facilities in the region that have refused to close. In Kamloops, for instance, No Limits Fitness and Ladies Only Fitness have remained open in spite of the public health orders.
Gold's Gym in Kamloops initially remained open, but later posted to its social media that it would close its doors while the public health order remains in place.
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