Fortius Sport and Health announced nine provincial sport organizations that will now call Burnaby home, inside its new $61 million sports hub yesterday.
Fortius started taking appointments on May 1 and celebrated its soft opening on Monday by announcing SportMedBC, BC School Sports, BC Athletics, Curl BC, Canoe-Kayak BC, Karate BC, BC Water Polo and Synchro BC will reside inside the sports hub on Kensington Avenue.
With these groups all in one spot makes it the largest sport cluster in the province, according to Fortius.
"Our vision is to collaborate with like-minded individuals and organizations who believe in the power of sport to transform lives," said Scott Cousens, founder and chair of Fortius, in a media release. "That's why it's only natural for us to have provincial sport organizations dedicated to the development of athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers share in the canvas that is the Fortius Athlete Development Centre."
The eight organizations will join Roman Tulis European Soccer School of Excellence, which has already set up shop in Fortius. The nine organizations will join the Fortius Athelete Development Centre both as resident and non-resident sport partners.
"A major pillar of what we're all about is athlete development," said Dr. Rick Celebrini, Fortius co-founder and chief sport officer. "Launching the Fortius Athlete Development Centre with an inaugural series of resident sport partners that are responsible for the growth and development of their respective sports is what we'd like to think is a win-win proposition."
Fortius also officially announced Pharmasave, FitFirst Footwear and a SportMed medicine store that will all be operational by the summer.
"We were looking for like-minded individuals and organizations who shared in our belief in the power of sport to transform lives," said Lynda Cannell, Fortius chief operating officer. "Our first three inaugural resident retail partners are a perfect fit for us given their commitment to delivering excellent customer service and their knowledge and understanding of the sport and active living communities."
The $61 million sport facility features the Fortius Institute, athlete development centre, lodge, gymnasium, performance conditioning and fitness centre under one roof.
The Burnaby NOW was given a tour of the facility earlier this month, to read that story go to www.burnabynow.com/Burnaby+given+tour+Fortius+Sport+Health+facility/8323795/story.html.
