Front Lines

FRONTLINES New Gym Offers Traditional Services With A Relaxing Twist

Personal trainer Dan Hyatt pitched the idea of a unique gym to bar owner Christian Pinard over a beer. His idea: create a space to have fun and connect after workouts.

“We could have more gym space, but we thought that it would be fun to have a members’ lounge, where you relax after a workout and have a beer and play video games,” says Pinard, owner of Primary Social Club, The Dugout, The Patio Lounge, and Chatham Street Diner. “It is a quirky idea and I love it.”

With 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Pinard felt the project could work if the right people were involved, so he and Hyatt partnered with Keen Hernandez and Robbie Ibrahim to launch the idea.

Hyatt’s dream of opening the Boozy Barbell was about to become a reality.

Two personal trainers run the majority of fitness classes, tend to the daily duties of the gym, and run the bar.

Ibrahim, a graduate of the University of Windsor and owner of Flash Frame Events, assists with operations and training.

Hernandez and Hyatt focus mainly on personal training.

Hernandez has been in the fitness industry for nearly a decade; a graduate of the University of Windsor, he has managed personal training departments for large gyms.

Hyatt has managed fitness clubs and teams in his 14 years as a personal trainer and is certified in several areas, including senior wellness, fascial mobility, and pre-/post-natal fitness.

Along with group classes and personal training, members are encouraged to enjoy a meal, try a protein shake, or enjoy a drink from the bar (always post-workout).

The Boozy Barbell also offers prepared meals and an in-house barbershop. Use of the lounge is available, not just post-workout, but VIP members can rent the space for their own events for free, as well as access the bartender and related services for a small fee. The partners call it a “one-stop shop”.

As with other service-based businesses, the Boozy Barbell launch was hindered initially by supply chain issues and then by forced closures.

“COVID affected us badly,” Pinard reveals. “Initially, our opening was June 2021. Delays and shutdowns kept our doors closed until February 2022.”

The gym is now in full swing with a growing membership and a friendly and knowledgeable workout environment.

Hernandez adds, “Not to mention that the energy we have in our club is unmatched!”

The Boozy Barbell is located at 1320 Tecumseh Road East in Windsor.

You can learn more about their services on: Facebook.com/TheBoozyBarbell22.

The Owners of Boozy Barbell — all between the ages of 26 to 35 — from left are: Dan Hyatt, Christian Pinard, Keen Hernandez, and Robbie Ibrahim (seated). Photo by Sanja Tabor.

2022 WEtech Alliance i.d.e.a. FUND Recipients

Companies in southern Ontario that focus on environmental impacts are vital to creating jobs and bringing new, innovative technologies to market, which continue Canada’s transition to a green economy.

In early August 2022, 16 companies in our region received non-repayable contributions totalling $567,700, from WEtech Alliance (in partnership with Innovation Guelph), through the Government of Canadasupported i.d.e.a. Fund (idea-fund.ca).

The i.d.e.a. Fund was developed to help clean growth firms get the tools they need to succeed by providing financial and business advisory supports to develop or redesign green products, services, processes and technologies that reduce impacts to our environment and create made-in-Canada climate change solutions.

“In recent years, we have seen our entrepreneurial community rise to every occasion they have encountered,” says Adam Castle, Director of Venture Services, WEtech Alliance. “The challenges in front of them proved insignificant compared to the innovative thinking that drove them forward through adversity. Climate change is a challenge that our entire world faces, and once again, entrepreneurs and their ability to adapt will be a major key to the perseverance of our communities, our economy, and our country. It is an honour to assist in the delivery of these funds, and in the execution of the brilliant, equitable, and environmentally sustainable projects that make up the first cohort of this transformative program.”

The WEtech Alliance Windsor Essex and Chatham Kent supported companies in Cohort One are: Advanced Hi-Tech Centre Ltd., Affinity Custom Designs Inc., CanGro AgriFoods Inc., Cedar Valley Selections Inc., DC Farms, Harbour Technologies, IPM Scoutek, Midstream Research Inc., ONtech Rapid Coatings Inc., Ortaliza Urban Farms, REEL Outline, Shantz Ag Products Ltd., SkiviYaan, TDL Systems, THREESEVEN Consulting Services Inc., and WaveDirect Telecommunications.

The Government of Canada, through the

Federal Economic Development Agency

for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), provided Innovation Guelph with $10 million to lead the delivery of the i.d.e.a. Fund in partnership with five Regional Innovation Centres — Haltech (Halton Region), Innovate Niagara, Innovation Factory (Hamilton), TechAlliance of Southwestern Ontario (London) and WEtech Alliance (Windsor and Chatham-Kent).

Fifty percent of the businesses receiving support through the fund will be owned or led by women and 30 percent owned or led by Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, Black communities, racialized communities and members of the LGBTQ2+ community.

Applications for Cohort Two of the i.d.e.a. Fund open March 2023.

For additional details and eligibility criteria, visit: WEtech-Alliance.com/idea.