» Industry Advocacy
directors, found financial support from industry suppliers and encouraged clubs to take out memberships. He’s a tremendous entrepreneur and busi- nessperson and an amazing guy.” While Hardy says there have been
dozens of battles along the way, the 2007 fight over music licensing— ReSound wanted to charge clubs $18.56 per member per year to play music— is the organization’s biggest win to date. “The industry really came together—we raised over $1 million, and today clubs pay just a fraction of the $18.36,” he says. “It was a huge threat that would have bankrupted many clubs.” Other standout victories include
the Children’ Fitness Tax Credit, Adult Fitness Tax Credit (both unfor- tunately revoked when the feder- al Conservatives lost power), caloric menu legislation and FIC’s most recent initiative, Prescription To Get Active, a task force that encourages doctors to prescribe physical activity versus medicine.
22 Fitness Business Canada March/April 2017
A Happy Accident Although Hardy has always led
an active lifestyle—he road bikes and works out at Orangetheory four to five times per week—he got into the business by accident in 1999 when he invested in the Club Fit fitness club chain. “I wasn’t really interested un- til I saw it was an opportunity to buy an underperforming company,” says Hardy. He has been involved in the fit- ness world ever since. “I looked at other businesses but re-
alized my passion was here,” he says. “It’s an amazing and very inspiration- al industry. Even though it’s currently undergoing a lot of turmoil mostly re- lated to club consolidation, there are few businesses where people regularly thank you for impacting their health and wellbeing.”
Making a Difference Today, FIC continues to be an im-
portant watchdog as it constantly scans for threats and opportunities for fitness business stakeholders. FIC
Trisha Sarker, executive director of Fitness Industry Council of Canada, promotes the association at the canfitpro world fitness expo.
members are quick to credit and show appreciation for Hardy’s contributions. “David has become an impor-
tant part of the fitness industry, says Clive Caldwell, president and CEO of Cambridge Group of Clubs a former president of IHRSA Ontario. “It is hard to imagine that FIC would have con- tinued with such success without his involvement and leadership.” For those interested in supporting
the industry, Hardy suggests getting involved with committee work or serv- ing on a board. “As a committee and board member,
I’ve learned things that were absolute- ly life changing. A lot of our success at World Health and Orangetheory came from people I met on boards and things I learned there on the job. You’ll meet amazing people and at the same time help the fitness community.” FBC
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