It’s not official until you cut the ribbon! From left: Lorraine Durand, South Dundas Mayor Jason Broad, Marcim Kozniewski, Multirez Capital, Charles Fleury, business owner, Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry MP Eric Duncan, Erica Nelson, General Manager. Tinkess Photo

IROQUOIS – The South Dundas community of Iroquois was, at one time during the planning of the St. Lawrence Seaway, projected to be a new super community of approximately 40,000 people. Some plans die on the drawing board, and that apparently was one of them, but recent developments in the area might cause some to think it was more a case of destiny delayed rather than destiny denied.

Ross Video, the jewel of the community’s business sector is known world-wide, and is a constant source of steady growth and stable employment. With that growth comes the need for housing, which is what attracted Valecraft Homes and inspired them to create their Merkley Oaks subdivision.

Since not everyone is in the market to purchase a home, but still needs a place to live meant there was a need for quality, affordable rental accommodation, so Multirez Capital, who had been developing multi-unit rental buildings in eastern Ontario saw an opportunity and developed a multiple story building across the road from Ross Video. Anytime Fitness saw the potential for the services they provide, and were the ideal ground-floor commercial tenant for Multirez Capital’s building, and the rest, as they say, is history.

You cannot help but be impressed when you step through the doors into Anytime Fitness. From the amount of open space, to the fully-glazed southern exposure, to the number and quality of ellipticals, and treadmills, and free weights and weight machines, and the list goes on. If you’re a person who already works out regularly, you will feel like you’ve found a home. If you are a person who doesn’t work out, but should, this might be the enticement you need.

The facility has at the time of this writing approximately 400 members, but, as the name implies, they can work out when it is convenient for them, so you’ll discover pretty quickly which of the twenty-four hours in a day works best for you. Different needs, different preferences, lots of options.

In addition to staff, members, family and friends, there were a number of local dignitaries on hand for the grand opening. South Dundas Mayor Jason Broad commented on how nice it was to have a new building and a new business in the community.

“We’ve been opening several businesses over the last few years that have moved into existing building,” said Mayor Broad. “I believe this is the first that’s actually in a new building. So that’s really exciting for the community. Anytime Fitness is close for all the residents, people in Iroquois can travel the short distance and participate and exercise and improve their health and their mental health as well. We know it works in those areas. So, on behalf of South Dundas, the residents and the council, congratulations, the best wishes in the grand opening, may your business continue as an employer for many years to come.”

Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry MP Eric Duncan drove from Parliament Hill for the opening. “I came dressed from Parliament Hill, not for the gym today, but to offer my congratulations,” said MP Duncan. “This looks great. You were saying that the membership engagement early on has been great. I think this is a great local business addition to the village of Iroquois, and a great time to come, not only the new buildings, but the subdivisions that are growing here in town as well. There’s even more people moving to the area, and I think it should be good for business. Congratulations on the beautiful setup you’ve got. I wish you all the best, and let’s officially cut the ribbon.”

Owner Charles Fleury symbolically cut the ribbon, and shared his thoughts on becoming a part of the fabric of Iroquois and South Dundas. “Honestly, for us, it’s a great pleasure to be part of the community here,” said Fleury. “We’re very happy to have brought this gym. I think it’s going to be great for all of the citizens of Iroquois and surrounding areas. We’re a facility that’s 24/7, that has access to every other locations as well. People that sign up here can go anywhere as well, which is very great for the traffic that we get here in town.

“We’re part of this beautiful new building that, you know, we obviously couldn’t ask a better place to have this beautiful gym. And the tenants at the building have been great. There have been memories as well, now, since the beginning, and we’re just looking forward to growing this business, growing as part of the community, and to just enjoy the years to come.”

Contractor Marcim Kozniewski represented Multirez Capital, the company who built the building in which Anytime Fitness is located. They have previously built several buildings in eastern Ontario, in communities such as Winchester, Prescott, Almonte, Arnprior, Russell, and more.

“Our goal is always to go for the affordable buildings. You know, that’s how we started, and we keep going,” said Kozniewski. “All of those buildings, you know, we are very, very proud, and we just want to keep going. Next one, I think it’s going to be in Morrisburg.”

The residential portion of the building, according to Kozniewski is fully rented. He says their focus is on building affordable housing, and in this location bachelor and one-bedroom units.

A beautiful new fitness centre to improve your health and affordable housing in an area that needs it. The future does appear bright for Iroquois, and it will be interesting to see what the next addition will be.