BPM’s History
Ten years ago, BPM looked very different than it does today.
In 2016, BPM began as a hand-built spin studio in downtown Victoria. There was no grand master plan, no expectation of what it would eventually become, and certainly no vision of multiple studios, expanded services, and thousands of members becoming part of the journey.
There was simply passion.
Before opening BPM, I spent five years running the Victoria Sport & Social Club while training clients one-on-one in a garage gym, and fell in love with creating opportunities for everyday people to get active, have fun, and meet new people. I saw firsthand how movement could bring people together and build friendships, confidence, and community.
I also saw something missing.
Traditional gyms often felt intimidating. For many people, walking into a fitness facility for the first time can be uncomfortable and overwhelming. BPM was built on the idea that fitness should feel different. It should feel welcoming. It should feel supportive. It should feel like a place where people could simply be themselves.
The Evolution
Over the last decade, that idea evolved from a small downtown spin studio into the BPM Fitness Centre community we know today.
We expanded our services. We grew our team. We built a second gym. We became the first official HYROX Training Centre on Vancouver Island and continued to improve our coaching, programming, and member experience.
But none of those milestones compare to the challenge that nearly changed everything.
COVID was unimaginably difficult.
Every day felt uncertain. Business plans changed weekly. Public Health Orders shifted constantly. Restrictions evolved. Health advisories changed. Industry scrutiny was everywhere.
Finances became tight, and every day brought a new question:
“Is this the end?”
Like many local businesses across Victoria, survival became the focus.
There wasn’t time to think about growth. There wasn’t time to think about optimization. The goal became simply finding a way to continue serving our members and supporting our community through uncertain times.
Then something changed.
Eventually, conversations stopped becoming about survival and started becoming about improvement.
We could begin asking questions like:
“How do we create more value?”
“How do we improve coaching?”
“How do we create an even better experience?”
“How do we strengthen our community?”
That shift changed everything.
Today, BPM has had the privilege of impacting thousands of Victorians through Personal Training, group fitness classes, HYROX training, mobility services, and an environment designed around support and growth.
Yet despite everything that has changed over ten years, one thing never has:
Our values.
Consistency
Fitness trends come and go. Every year brings a new craze, a new workout style, new piece of fancy equipment, or a new promise of instant results. But BPM never chased fads.
We stayed committed to community, inclusivity, and creating a welcoming atmosphere focused on helping people get stronger — physically and mentally.
If someone walked through our doors today for the first time, our hope is that they would feel the same thing they would have felt ten years ago:
Warmth.
Respect.
Understanding.
Because entering a gym for the first time is often scary.
At BPM, people are greeted as humans before they’re treated as members. We meet people where they are, support them through their journey, and empower them to grow.
As we celebrate ten years, gratitude is the word that comes to mind most.
Gratitude for our members.
Gratitude for our team.
Gratitude for resilience during difficult moments.
And gratitude for never compromising on the beliefs and values that started this journey.
To everyone who has been part of the last decade: thank you.
And for anyone wanting to celebrate with us, you can learn more about our 10-year anniversary and community celebration in this recent Victoria Buzz feature: This Victoria gym is offering free classes to celebrate its 10-year anniversary. Or head to our schedule to book free classes June 4 – 13th!
Here’s to the next ten years — stronger together.
