Canadian National Squash Championships April 30 – May 4, 2008 The all-new Club at White Oaks, in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., is proud to host Canada’s most prestigious squash event – The Canadian National Championships. There are expected to be 400 competitors and 800 matches over four days.

Check out www.whiteoaksresort.com and FitNet News as more details become available.

ORC Supports Canadian Olympic Foundation The Ontario Racquet Club (ORC), in Mississauga, ON, is a proud supporter of the Canadian Olympic Foundation (COF). The Foundation’s goal is to raise $150 million over 2007-2012. The ORC has committed to helping this cause through fundraising events and building awareness of the Olympic movement in Canada.

The club has made a five-year commitment to raise a minimum of $250,000 for Canada’s athletes and will launched its campaign in October 2007. To garner interest and support for the cause, a relay will be held with ORC staff, members and Olympic hopefuls from Mississauga city hall to the ORC where the “Olympic flame” will be lit.

“Working with the Canadian Olympic Foundation is a natural fit for ORC, and we’re honoured to be partnering with it,” says general manager Jeff McCarrol.

The ORC, in its 32nd year of operation, is a multi-sport, multi-purpose family facility and is one of Ontario’s largest, most established private facilities.

For more information contact Jeff McCarrol, at jmccarrol@ontarioracquetclub.com or visit www.ontarioracquetclub.com.

IHRSA Releases 2007 Guide To Membership Retention

BOSTON - The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) recently released IHRSA’s 2007 Guide to Membership Retention: Industry Lessons on What and What Not to Do, by John McCarthy, IHRSA’s former executive director, and sponsored by Technogym. The report includes industry insights and lessons about membership retention and a comprehensive list of tactical measures that can help decrease membership attrition. The report also explains the impact of attrition on a club’s bottom line, outlines the characteristics of high-retention clubs and includes case studies of clubs with above-average member retention rates. Cost is $19.95 (IHRSA members) and $29.95 for non-members. For more information, visit www.ihrsastore.com.

Cuts Fitness for Men

In 2005, Cuts Fitness For Men, basically a males-only version of Curves, was touted by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the year’s “new and hottest franchises.” Cuts’ press releases boasted that it was the fastest growing men’s fitness franchise in the U.S., that it had 100 franchises open in five countries, more than 200 franchises sold and expected to sell 250 more in 2006. It further announced plans to move into the Canadian market and “create 40 locations over the next three years.”

Then, things went suddenly silent. In September, 2006, the New York Times reported that “67 Cuts for Men clubs have either closed or never opened.” Steven Haase, the company’s managing director, was quoted as saying that “closings were part of the process as a franchise grows.”

Today, a visit to their website offers only information on founder John Gennaro’s book with no mention of franchise opportunities. Two Canadian clubs, one in Ottawa and one in Winnipeg, remain open. But otherwise, the hottest franchise of 2005 has disappeared.

Physical Activity Safe for Children with Corrected Heart Defects QUEBEC CITY – A new study funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation sheds light on widespread parental fears that a play time bump in the chest could cause damage to the area operated on, possibly even resulting in a heart attack or sudden death. As a result, participation in sports and team games by children with corrected heart defects is very low. “We need changes at a clinical level to get the message out that fragility is simply not an issue,” says Pat Longmuir, a graduate student in cardiovascular research at Toronto’s Sick Kids Hospital. “The reality is that these kids need vigorous physical activity for their healthy development,” she says. ”Physical activity is very good for their hearts and, with a very few exceptions, they can exercise as much as they like.”

Physical activity is important too for the social development of children. “For children aged six to 11 most of their social interaction is based on some form of physical activity – play at recess, bike riding with friends, going to a skating party, little league baseball, soccer or some other sport. So it’s not just a matter of the health of their hearts. It is also a huge component in their self esteem – and how they interact with their peers,” says Longmuir.

Provided by the Coalition for Active Living www.activeliving.ca

The Art of Building Bodies: Season Two Coming Soon

The Art of Building Bodies is a television series that explores and demystifies the world of creating strength and fitness. The second season airs beginning in March in Canada.

The show features regular appearances by trainers, experts in fitness and sports, as well as Hollywood stars who share their getting-fit stories. The series offers insight, motivation with simple and innovative strategies to help viewers reach their fitness goals. It’s hosted by fitness model and journalist Fernanda Lazzaro and Orlando Bowen a high performance trainer and former CFL athlete. It airs Saturdays at 10 a.m on E! Entertainment , Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. and Thursdays at 10:30 p.m. on MEN TV.

For more information, visit www.buildingbodiestv.com.

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