Pure Fitness

As others have commented, the gym itself is o.k. but the business practices of the owner are unethical and there is a hygiene issue in the locker room. I would never have joined this gym if I had known about these problems ahead of time and do not recommend it to anyone.
I signed up because I received a special offer by mail. Then, when I showed up for the tour, they informed me I could only receive the special offer (3 months for $ 20) if I also signed up for an additional 9 months at full price. This type of deceiving practice is called bait and switch marketing and it is illegal. I was highly motivated to get back into shape so I went along even though I felt duped. But the incident left a bad taste in my mouth and I called the owner a couple of days later to complain and asked that he honour his special offer and release me from the full year membership I purchased. You know what he said? Quote: «I always put ‘some conditions apply’ in my promotional materials… I know this because I write them myself! I expect you to honour your commitment… I can’t just turn back time and cancel your membership.» What an arrogant response! And blatantly false: I checked and he had not indicated on the promotional flyer that the offer was conditional in any way and, as I found out later on the Ministry of Consumer Services website, not only could he «turn back time», he was legally obliged to do so and to let me out of the contract (after the three months for $ 20). But he lied to me and I didn’t find out about this until after I had been a member for sevral months. And as others have mentioned, you have to meet with the owner in order to cancel your membership so he can try to talk you out of it. Ridiculous!
Once I resigned myself to try and make the most of a bad situation, I signed up for personal training and bought 6 sessions on special because the personal training rep convinced me this was the minimum number of sessions I needed. As soon as I had my first session with the trainer (a different person), she informed me of her approach (which was good) but indicated that what the personal training rep had told me about why I needed 6 sessions was actually false. So this was the second time they intentionally lied in order to make more money off me.
Then, a few months later, they triple billed me and a number of other clients for the month by mistake. They did apologize but it was still an inconvenience to have to go and pick up a cheque and cash it at my bank.
The final straw happened one day when I was getting dressed in the locker room and noticed a reddish bug on my jeans. It looked sort of like a lady bug but smaller and brown without spots. It was the middle of winter so I was a bit surprised. I swept it away and thought nothing of it until two weeks later when I read an article online about… bed bugs. There was a picture of what these bugs look like… exactly like the one that got on my clothes in the locker at Pure Fitness! I immediately went to my bed and removed all bedding and did a thorough inspection and was somewhat relieved that I didn’t see any bed bugs. I also checked the clothes I wear the most and again, there weren’t any. Of course, the thought crossed my mind that maybe there were bed bugs and I simply hadn’t found them. Not fun to think about.
I really can’t express how much frustration I experienced with this gym. It is clear that the owner and personal training rep will say or do anything in order to make a sale. I found it upsetting every time I went to the gym because it just reminded me of how they conned me and it affected my desire to actually go there and work out. The sad thing is that, aside from the bed bug issue, if they had been honest with me and honoured their special offer, I most likely would have signed up anyway, willingly and happily. So the irony is that by being greedy and dishonest, they actually are making less money than if they treated people with respect and honesty. Then again, even if they were honest, I would have cancelled at the first appearance of a bed bug!

No hassle membership sign up, gym is decent size, lots of machines but needs more workout benches. Dry/​Wet Sauna was the selling point for me.

I echo Chris A.‘s review. The gym is well maintained, but of course it should be. It is nothing different from a Goodlife location but costs more and is only one location. They are slimey when it comes to billing and cancellation of membership, where you have to ‘talk to the manager’ and other types of avoidance strategies. It’s all very obvious what they’re trying to do, so think twice before signing up and make sure to keep your commitment period brief (4 – 5 months max). Goodlife will probably just buy this location or open one nearby and that will be it.

The best gym that I have joined… affordable, great atmosphere and well maintained. Clean, bright and friendly managers/​staff. Great selection of classes and great day care providers… just wish they had more day care hours during the afternoon hours. It is busy enough to give you motivation but never cramped.
The management team run a fantastic gym and give great service. so far ;)