Gym owner reprimanded for filming workout videos in empty gym, could face $6,000 fine

MONTREAL (CITYNEWS) – A Montreal gym owner could owe thousands in fines for allegedly breaking public-health measures for filming fitness videos in his gym – while it was empty.

Trainer Luis Argumedes says Montreal police told him he could face fines up to $6,000 for filming the videos for his clients inside his gym during the province’s current phase of tightened restrictions.

Gyms in Quebec’s “red zones” were forced to shut down on Oct. 8 and will remain closed until at least Nov. 23 as part of the province’s measures to stop the spread of COVID-19.

“Why would I be scared to come into my own gym to film classes for my clients?” said Argumedes, the owner of Centre U Fit in Montreal’s Anjou neighborhood. “It makes no sense.

“The cops told me I wasn’t allowed doing personal training. I wasn’t allowed to film in my own gym. I wasn’t allowed to do anything at Centre U Fit except maintenance and stuff like that.”

Argumedes says police officers visited his gym three times in a two-day span after reports the gym was doing illegal activities during the lockdown. (Credit: INSTAGRAM/Luis Argumedes)

Argumedes says police officers visited his gym three times in a two-day span after reports the gym was doing illegal activities during the lockdown. They told him he was breaking the law.

This comes after a coalition of gym owners and fitness centres threatened to reopen last week despite the restrictions. Quebec Premier Francois Legault said gym owners and clients who broke the rules would be fined.

Argumedes says he wishes the guidelines were clearer.

“We ask ourselves the same questions,” he said. “What are we allowed? What are we not allowed? Because the rules are not clear. We’re never sure if we’re doing the right thing or not.”

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At a press conference on Tuesday, Quebec health officials said they would look into the situation.

“What we don’t want is for groups to be together,” said Dr. Horacio Arruda, the province’s director of public health. “If you’re using your own locale, even if it’s a gym, if it’s not your home, I think there is no reason for that being a problem in the public  perspective.”

Added Quebec Health Minister Christian Dube: “We asked people to be innovative and if there is one way to find a solution, let’s look at it.”

Kevin Young, a long-time client of the gym, says the whole situation is frustrating for small business owners who are trying to survive.

“It’s hard for everyone right now to hear stories that they’re not allowed to do their work,” said Young. “They did online classes on Instagram, Facebook live. That was their way of helping people out. And now I heard they’re not allowed to do this.”

Montreal police have reportedly been swarmed with phone calls about restrictions being broken. The SPVM say from Oct. 26 to Nov. 1, they issued 58 red-zone violation infractions and inspected 351 licensed establishments, 106 schools and 375 other locations.