Strathmore Gymnastics Centre up and running in permanent location

By Brady Grove, Times Reporter

The Strathmore Gymnastics Centre (SGC) has faced some difficult choices over the last few months but a vision for the future of gymnastics in Strathmore is finally beginning to take shape.
The local gymnastics organization received the keys to their new facility on Dec. 1 and is excited to start renovations and see athletes performing.
“It’s been a lot of work since probably June,” said SGC board member Scott Smith. “Everybody has been working really hard behind the scenes to get this space secured which is all done.”
The SGC’s new building is the old Jumphouse facility located at 122 Canal Gardens just south of Highway 1. The organization was told on May 22 of this year that Jumphouse was changing its business model to focus on tumbling and cheerleading. The SGC ultimately decided to purchase the building along with some new equipment including brand new spring floors, vaults and balance beams.
“It’s going to be a brand new place,” said Smith. “We can focus this whole thing on gymnastics now.”
According to SGC board member Carley Flaws, a major factor motivating the SGC is to provide another space for kids and families to perform gymnastics, but also to give them local options instead of having to travel to Calgary, especially during the winter months.
For the immediate future, SGC will focus on renovating and installing the new equipment. The facility is mostly just concrete and walls right now, but with an army of volunteers and staff SGC expects classes to start on Jan. 14, 2019.
“We want people to walk in and say ‘wow.’ This is not the same space, this is something new and improved,” said Flaws.
Another goal of SGC is to build up the gymnastics community and expand their programming reach to encompass more skill levels and different age groups, including seniors. Currently, SGC has multiple programs that range from a Baby Bees program – for babies learning to walk and tumble – all the way up to the Strathmore Silhouettes competitive teams.
“Before it was just competitive under me,” said gymnastics head coach Tara Smith who has been coaching for over 20 years. “Now the competitive is such a tiny tiny part of this right now.”
SGC is hoping to reach out to other aspects of the business community so the facility can host activities such as yoga, third-party fitness and birthday parties.
For more about SGC, go to strathmoregymnastics.com.