Energy Centre’s “women’s only” workout area at gym upheld

The women’s only workout area. Image: City of Cold Lake.

A women’s only area at the Cenovus Wellness Centre at the Cold Lake Energy Centre will remain.

City council upheld Energy Centre’s staff decision to keep the specific 480 square feet of workout space for just women, after a complaint was lodged.

This designated area, roughly six per cent of the total workout space from the old Pita Pit, was started in mid-January, as some had asked for this space.

It is well received, said CAO Kevin Nagoya during the city council meeting on Mar. 12, but there have been some who believe it drives segregation, as well as questions about what workout equipment and stretching space is needed for each.

City notes indicated complaints of male clients loudly grunting and making, in some opinions, uncomfortable noises while doing their workout. 

An incident occurred on January 27, 2024 at the Cenovus Wellness Centre involving that “Respectful Workplace Complaint” being filed against the City of Cold Lake as the employer. 

“We support the staff for making that decision. They run these facilities and our job on council really is to set the budget, set the policy direction. But you’ve got to leave the day to day operations to the city staff,” said Mayor Craig Copeland on The Morning After.

New equipment arrived in February at the Wellness Centre, including hammer strength plate loaded equipment: iso-lateral kneeling leg curl, leg extension, iso-lateral high row, and seated dip. As well as hammer strength select cable equipment: standing calf raise, lateral raise, bicep curl, and triceps extension.

However, suggestions of tweaks to equipment and location, plus stretching areas, was asked by councillor Bob Mattice.

CAO Kevin Nagoya said they’d take that feedback.

Many voiced support around the council table, and wanted to keep day-to-day operations of the Energy Centre in the staff’s hands.

They voted to accept the report as information as is supportive of current operations.