» Crisis Management DISASTER Strikes When June Flooding Devastates Calgary Fitness Clubs BY BARB GORMLEY
fast,” recalls Ken Clarke, fitness director at Calgary’s Glencoe Club, thinking back to the torrential rains and subsequent flooding that hit his city and southern Alberta this past June. “We got the notice to evacuate at 3:00, and by midnight, rivers of wa- ter were flowing through the city, the power was out and the neighbourhood was completely inaccessible.” Despite the evacuation order, the
“It happened so
club was able to secure the build- ing, with the police’s knowledge, and quickly have two staff mem- bers circulating through the vast 340,000-square-foot family sports and social club with flashlights and radios monitoring its condition. The 12,000-member club, found-
ed in 1931, has eight curling sheets, a skating rink, two pools, six tennis courts, 10 bowling lanes, seven squash courts, six badminton courts, five food and beverage outlets and a large
fitness centre with 26 personal trainers and three fitness studios.
The damages “We’re fortunate that the club sits
about three feet higher than the sur- rounding area,” says Clarke. “The water came right to the front doors, but not in – we were six inches short of it being a complete disaster. And luckily the fitness facility is on the third floor, so there was no damage done there.” But while many indoor areas remained
untouched, the club was forced to close for 10 days because the underground parking lot, the basement and the out- door swimming pool were filled with muck. The worst damage of all? The club’s
45-hole golf course, which sits in a river valley and had just undergone a one-year $7 million renovation, was completely underwater for days. “Forty-two of the 45 holes suffered some damage due to flood- ing,” says Clarke.
Calgary 2013
Calgary YWCA Sadly Closes Doors
Aſter Flood The YWCA of Calgary’s down-
town location was significantly af- fected by the flooding on June 21, and its fitness facility and gymna- sium were the hardest hit of all. Immediately aſter the flood-
ing, fitness programming was sus- pended to evaluate the extent of the damage and the options avail- able to the organization. Aſter a thorough assessment of the fit- ness centre, gymnasium and their resources, and aſter discussions with its insurance providers, it was determined that the damage was more excessive than originally suspected. As a result, the YWCA Fitness
on 5th is now permanently closed. “The YWCA has long main-
tained a focus on the wellness of mind, body and spirit as a strong component of a healthy communi- ty,” says Virginia Trawick, director of organizational development. “This focus has played a role in strategic planning of the organi- zation and will continue to do so for many years to come.” A farewell event planned for
the fall will invite members to come together, share stories and celebrate the history of the long time fixture in the Calgary community.
18 Fitness Business Canada September/October 2013
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