Iron Energy Gym hired a lawyer to help them navigate the appeal process to get their business license reinstated in West Kelowna.

Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Iron Energy Gym

Although fitness facilities will soon be allowed to reopen in B.C., West Kelowna's Iron Energy Gym is expected to appeal at city hall to have its business license reinstated, and the owners hired a lawyer to help them.

Raminder Hayre, lawyer and self-described astrology-based business coach, will be representing the gym and its owners as they navigate new requirements to keep their doors open.

Iron Energy Gym is also facing a $2,300 fine for violating the public health order, which the owners do not intend to pay. Aside from the business licensing appeal, however, she wouldn't go into detail about what next steps the gym owners may take.

"I can't say too much because of privilege," Hayre said. "As of right now, we're trying to figure out how we can get the license back."

Iron Energy Gym opposed a provincial order that determined fitness facilities must close in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, as cases spiked across B.C. As they remained open, Interior Health delivered a fine, ordered them to close and the City of West Kelowna pulled the gym's business license.

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Hayre also represents Corduroy Restaurant in Vancouver, which was briefly ordered to close in October for violating public health orders.

The restaurant amended its business model to a cafeteria-style eatery, in order to avoid checking for vaccine status of its customers.

Hayre splits her time between law and her "astrology consulting" business, according to her website, which rounds out her business as a "full service brand" to provide business guidance, along with conflict resolution and litigation services.

Brian Mark, a co-owner of Iron Energy Gym, said he is not interested in Hayre's consulting business and simply hired her to help with the legal process as the owners try to reinstate a business license, and he turned to her after learning about her work for Corduroy Restaurant.

Hayre, who said she is a trained lawyer, a psychic and holds a masters of business administration, offers multiple consulting services. They can range from a $333 one-to-one coaching session, including a "birth chart reading," to a $1,555 astrology-based business plan, which includes a one-hour Zoom session and a printable business plan, according to her website. The services can include tarot card readings and astrology-based readings like planetary alignments when the client was born.

"Please be advised that some services provided are outside of the scope of legal practice, and should not be taken as legal advice, counselling, therapy, or anything under a similar scope of practice. Consulting and mentoring services are based on personal experience, holistic means, and without qualification as a professional coach or mentor. I am not a qualified or registered counsellor, therapist, business planner (or the like) or psychologist/psychiatrist," a disclaimer on the website reads.

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When asked about the high prices of those services despite the disclaimer on her website, Hayre said: "I don't need to justify anything I've been educated in. I think that's very rude to ask to justify those prices that have never once been questioned."

"I'm not happy with that question and I'm going to hang up once I've answered," she added. "I'm not concerned about those that are skeptical because those aren't my clientele."

Much like Mark and Iron Energy Gym, not all of Hayre's law clients will be interested in her consulting services, and Mark said they have not discussed it.

"It's meant to be aligned for whoever wants it. It's more for those who are looking to succeed based on their energy," Hayre said. "It's meant to help those who want to do more passion-based stuff."

The owners of Iron Energy Gym and Corduroy Restaurant are some of many that have been affected by public health orders as the province grapples with COVID-19 and attempts to fully reopen to a post-pandemic economy.

Hayre believes small businesses have been disproportionately affected by public health measures, and has been speaking out against public health mandates for "over a year," for which she uses her social media presence and her podcast.

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Public health authorities, while not having provided data to the public regarding transmission specifically taking place within gym settings, deemed fitness facilities to be an "amplifier" for COVID-19, as stated by public health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.

However, the public health order for gyms is being lifted nearly as promised, with fitness facilities set to reopen on Jan. 20.

Bars and nightclubs that do not serve food with remain closed until at least Feb. 16.

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