Tips For Joining Fitness Clubs

Tips on Joining Fitness Clubs
By Howard Buchin

Spring is here and many of us think that it’s time to get into better shape. Have you thought about joining a fitness club? Every day we receive flyers promoting numerous kinds clubs, with different kinds of fees, facilities and classes to entice you. Most clubs will need you to sign some form of a membership agreement.

There are clubs tailored to adults only, or other clubs which allow children to attend.

All fitness clubs are governed by the Consumer Protection Act, which means they must disclose any “hidden charges” before you sign with them. As the name hidden charges implies, you need to look closely at any membership agreement. There is usually an extra charge for towels, access to saunas, or exercise mats, or other specialized equipment areas. Make sure you prepare a list of questions ready to ask, in order to find out what your membership fees will include.

Most Clubs have lots of fitness machines such as stationary bikes, rowers, treadmills, weight training nautilus-type machines designed to improve fitness. These machines also help with strengthening and conditioning. You’ll need to decide if you require a fitness evaluation, or the assistance of a personal trainer. There are usually costs involved with testing, as well as fees for personal training sessions, which are sold in packages.

Fitness clubs use various levels of personal trainers & instructors. Ideally the trainers are geared towards helping you to get to the fitness goals set for yourself. A personal trainer can get his/her qualifications from several places. Certification courses are offered by community colleges, and other training courses are offered via the Internet. Obviously, the Internet doesn’t compare to a college level of study. A question to ask might be: “How do your trainers/instructors get their qualifications”? If you’re involved with competitive level sports, you’ll want to work with a higher-level of trainers.

Clubs have varying hours of operation, depending on their clientele. Be certain to enquire about what hours your club is open. Take the opportunity to visit the club at various times of day before you sign up, when you expect to be working out there. Check out if there is sufficient space to allow for the number of people there. Are the change rooms big enough to allow you to be comfortable when you attend?

The Consumer Protection law gives you the right to:
*Change your mind about joining (within 10 days after signing a contract).
*To cancel your agreement within the first year, if you believe you’re a victim of
unfair business practices.
• The right to choose to sign a membership for one year, or renew on a monthly, or bi-monthly basis.

Remember there’s always a possibility of unforeseen scenarios developing. A club can slip down with maintenance and upkeep of the premises.
What if unsanitary conditions do not get addressed? What are the terms and conditions if you want to cancel your membership?

Clubs sales people will likely try to use pressure tactics with statements such as, “You can cancel at anytime for any reason” or “Don’t worry your not bound by the agreement should any unforeseen events such as injury or pregnancy occur.” Clubs generally do their best to protect the clubs own interests, and not yours. I asked to take the club agreements home to read, but the staff refused at both clubs I attended. Remember there are good reasons why the fine print is so difficult to read, quite simply, they acted as if, it would better appreciated if I didn’t read through the contract, or understand what it said. To me, this appears to be an unfair business practice, but it’s not necessarily ‘illegal.’ Remember that anything that requires you r signature, signifies that you have agreed to it.

Initially a club offered a four-month free membership. They wanted me to sign on for a complete one-year membership, which I would have had to pay bi-monthly (from my bank account). They didn’t seem very interested in my paying in advance for the year. One club policy said it would suspend the fees for the time a member was unable to attend, but then tacked the time back on once the member was healthy and attending again.

I noticed that the staff at the clubs I visited made many verbal claims about what would happen in the case of having to suspend my membership, but these weren’t backed up by their contract. Anything you agree to needs to be included in writing, within the membership agreement that your signing.

The agents at the clubs I spoke with inferred that I had no worries by telling me, “You can trust us. We’re your friends.” In fact, the agreement wasn’t too friendly. The terms included late-payment penalties. ‘Failure to pay within 3 days would result in late payment charges.’ Another club had terms included which stated a ‘member would be given a 10-day window in which to pay his fees.’ How the clubs deal with late payments is often left up to the discretion of the club.

If you do intend to join up with a fitness club, I advise the following,
- Do some serious research before hand, are there many complaints about the club.
- Read carefully any contract that you are expected to sign. If any verbal promises are made to you, then these need to be in writing, into the contract.
- Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions.

If you have any consumer issues you might need help with please email me at howard.buchin@sympatico.ca

Homes A Photo Essay

The First Nations peoples originally settled this land and built their homes on the banks of the Highland Creek.



The name "Iroquois" was given to the peoples of the six nations by their enemies. The Algonquin called them the Iroqu (Irinakhoiw) "rattlesnakes." After the French added the Gallic suffix "-ois" to this insult, the name became Iroquois. The Iroquois call themselves Haudenosaunee meaning "people of the long house." Iroquois villages were generally fortified and large. The distinctive, communal longhouses of the different clans could be over 200' in length and were built about a framework covered with elm bark.

Evidence of two of their villages have been found long the banks of the Highland Creek. These villages were set well back from the creek, away from the flood plain and from the sight of their enemies. The village on the west hill is located near the Alda Motel, while the one on the east hill of the creek is on the Helliwell property. Descendants of the original peoples continue to reside on this land in the Gabriel Dumont community of West Hill. This reconstructed Longhouse is from the Crawford Lake reserve.




More Myth than Reality, more Dream than Truth, the original village of West Hill can no longer be seen but only glimpsed. Hidden from direct view behind apartment blocks, shopping malls, major thoroughfares and sprawling subdivisions, the village of West Hill lives on, in small oasis of beauty between the encroaching bricks and granite of Canada's largest metropolitan area. Swallowed first by the City of Scarborough which in turn was engulfed by the City of Toronto, West Hill no longer exists on any map, yet can still be found when the light is right and guide is sure. Come, we will seek this small village together and let her peace and charm renew our souls and delight our eyes.














Originally the home of Colonel Bickford, The Guild Inn was owned by my great uncle Msrg. John Fraser from September 1921 to October 1924. He renamed the property the St. Francis Xavier China Mission Seminary. During World War II it became an official naval base and was renamed, HMCS Bytown and, later still, was transformed into a military hospital and renamed Scarborough Hall. The property later became the Guild of all Arts and became an major Arts Center. Now owned by the City of Toronto, and its future the subject of considerable controversy, the stately building has been boarded up and left to rot.

Most recently Centennial College has expressed an interest in the property to house its International Relations Department.

CIBC Now Open On Sunday

The unheard of has happened in West Hill.

The new CIBC bank at Morningside Crossing has announced that it will open on Sunday. West Hill joins a select few other branches in Canada offering Sunday hours.

The move is part of an expanded awareness of customer needs and a willingness to extend service to meet those needs. Not only are banks open later in the day, not only do they have more banking machines, but now CIBC has added Sunday service to its customers.

It wasn't long ago that banks closed at 3 pm with additional hours only on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings.

At one point it was thought that internet banking and bank machines would make branches obsolete. Instead they have been modernized and made more customer friendly.

West Hill Churches (Part 2 of 2)

The Heron Park Baptist Church holds a hugely successful community picnic every summer. It is located at Lawrence and West Hill Drive. With a congregation of over 300 from a variety of Christian traditions, it is also active with a number of community partners including West Hill Community Services, the Toronto Children's Choir, and Philip Aziz hospice services.



The West Hill's Seventh Day Adventist Chruch was also renovated and enlarged in the 1990's and is located at Kingston Rd and Poplar.




West Hill Gospel Hall was newly renovated and expanded in the 1990's. It is located at Morningside and Coronation.

The Churches of West Hill (Part 1 of 2)

We have been challenged by Photojournalist, and former Associated Press Photographer, Patty Hancock to post more photos of our Community. Patty has undertaken this project as a way for us all to get to know each other's community. Maybe you'd like to skip over to Patty's to see what the spiritual life in Crisfield Maryland looks like. There are links from her site to other communities joining in this weekly venture.

West Hill certainly has a rich spiritual life and here is part one of a tribute to the churches of West Hill.



A new feature on the West Hill landscape is taking shape among the evergreens on the banks of the Highland Creek at the Kingston Road bridge. A new Buddhist Temple of the Toronto Mahavihara Society, is evidence of the diversity of the spiritual life of the community.





The major Roman Catholic Church in the community is St. Martin de Porres. Erected in the 1960's and substantially enlarged in the 1980's, its dramatic architectural style and placement at the intersection of Morningside and Lawrence make it one of the most well known features of the West Hill landscape.




Another historic Church, St. Margaret's in the Pines, has been a West Hill landmark for decades. St. Margaret's was the first parish in which Tom Harper, author and religious editor of the Toronto Star, served after his ordination as an Anglican Priest. Today St. Margarets reaches out especially to the Tamil community and to the elderly, with recreation and social programs for senior citizens running on a daily basis. The programs are run by West Hill Community Services and include transportation to and from St.Margarets.




Among the oldest Churches in the area, the Melville Presbyterian Church stands on the very edge of the west hill of Highland Creek on picturesque Old Kingston Road. It is visually one of the most dramatic of the area's churches.




Opportunities for a rich spiritual life are offered by the many religious centres in the community. Of these, only one carries West Hill's name. And it is likely the most controversial church in the entire country.

The West Hill United Church stands at the intersection of Orchard Park Dr and Kingston Road and looks innocent enough at first glance. Reverend Gretta Vosper welcomes visitors to her 1960s church. With a 230-family congregation, an average Sunday service has about 150 worshipers of all ages. The church has a youth group, a community supper program, and an outreach program that assists many charities. The church is currently creating more groups and programs. On Tuesday nights it houses Boy Scouts, karate and Narcotics Anonymous. The controversy arises from its being the only Church in West Hill, and maybe in the entire country, that has banned God. All mention of God has been removed from all Hymns sung and sermons preached. This is a Church for those who like their religion, "With Or Without God".

Howard Johnson's Coming to West Hill

By March 8th, Howard Johnson's Motel chain will establish an east end of Toronto presence in West Hill.

Taking over the Gateway Motel at the Highland creek bridge, the international hotel chain will take a significant step in reclaiming the tarnished image of motels in the West Hill area.

Once an important tourist destination for those on their way to the downtown core, the City's decision to use the motels in West Hill as Emergency accommodation began in the 1980s. It continues to the present day.

Of the motels along the Kingston Road strip, only the Grand maintained its reputation as a family owned business catering to the tourist trade.

Howard Johnson's is a chain of restaurants and hotels, located primarily throughout the United States and Canada. The name is derived from the founder of the original company, Howard Deering Johnson, who started the initial chain of restaurants and motels. Howard Johnson hotels are now part of Wyndham Worldwide, formerly a part of Cendant.

Wyndham operates the Howard Johnson brand under many "tiers," based on price, level of amenities, and services offered. Howard Johnson Express Inns, Howard Johnson Inns, Howard Johnson Hotels, and Howard Johnson Plaza Hotels range from limited-service motels to full-service properties with on-site concierges and business centers. Howard Johnson recently has begun offering its "Rise 'N' Dine" continental breakfast.

Howard Johnson's had a long history of providing service to the east end of the city having operated a motel at Markham and Progress for many years, until it was acquired as a student residence by Centennial College.

Newly renovated and upgraded, the latest addition to the Howard Johnson chain will be opening its doors to the public in West Hill on March 8th.

Let The Buyer Beware

Caveat Emptor “Let the buyer beware”
By Howard Buchin

The term Caveat Emptor is Latin for “Let the buyer beware.” This maxim applies to just about every item that a consumer buys, and dictates that it is up to the consumer to be cautious prior to making their purchase. He must examine and investigate the merchandise being bought. If defects are found after the sale, it may be extremely difficult to hold the vendor responsible for any such defects or missing parts. Caveat Emptor began as part of Roman law, and was eventually adopted by British common law and tradition. In Canada, there have since been laws established (Consumer Protection Act, Sale of Goods Act) to counter this buyer beware mentality that exists

The bottom line is that consumers get that for which they bargain. Today the average consumer is faced with many considerations prior to the purchase of items small and large. But this is especially true for big-ticket items that you might be contemplating.

In the matter of a home sale, failure on the part of the buyer to have the home inspected prior to purchase can result in long-term costs and aggravation. To be safe, have a fully accredited home inspector carry out a full home inspection prior to such a large scale purchase.

Years ago, we shopped at a popular furniture and appliance outlet in order to purchase a new refrigerator. After spending twenty minutes wandering around the showroom floor we decided to take the low-priced clearance (close-out – end-of-the-line) model that was being promoted. We paid using our visa card and signed a purchase agreement without spending too much time reading the fine print. After having second thoughts I returned to the store. I wanted to have another look at what we purchased. It seemed that the fridge was too small for us and I asked about changing for a different model. I was told that we couldn’t switch models since we had already signed a purchase agreement for the one we had chosen. They were not going to allow us to cancel the deal. After the salesperson directed me to look at my receipt, I found that at the bottom it said ALL SALES FINAL. NO CANCELLATION ON DISCONTINUED ITEMS. NOT SUBJECT TO EXCHANGE OR REFUND.

Also we hadn’t thought about the how hard it could be in the future to find parts and or any technical support, since we were buying an end-of-the-line model. On closer inspection of the crisper drawers, it didn’t appear that they were built quite as well as other fridges.

In spite of the fact that I returned to the store just 8 hours after we made the deal, the manager there wasn’t willing to give in to what we wanted. I had to fax several letters using references from applicable Consumer Protection Act 2002 sections and eventually, that same manager relented, and allowed us to change for another model.

Under the law, a vendor is supposed to disclose to you anything that might affect any decisions whether to purchase. Unfortunately this is not what happens in many instances.
There are very few consumers with the time or resources to take these matters before a small claims judge. We hadn’t noticed that the fridge on display had not been plugged in. We were not able to view it running.

If you’re buying a high-tech gadget such as a removable memory stick, or external hard-drive, you need to know if the model being sold is up-to-date, and compatible with your PC or MAC. Sometimes it’s a good idea to do an on-line check to see if there are any known issues with a particular model, before you even attend the store. A good website is www.ripoffreport.com, which has lots of feedback from consumers regarding products and experiences they had dealing with the companies they purchased from.

When we purchased our digital camera I spent many days on-line investigating what was out there and what was the best camera for the money we wanted to spend. This can be a very time consuming action, but one in the end you’ll be glad that you completed prior to your purchase.

Once you have settled on a particular brand and model then it’s time to start considering what kind of warranty do you wish to have. The original manufacturer’s warranty or store bought extended warranty. I’ve found that in almost every case when buying a computer it’s a good idea to have some form of extended warranty. Although, one particular extended warranty that I paid close to $100, did not give me much more than a phone number to call a service shop that was located a hundred miles away. A good question to ask is where do you need to go in case you need service. Do you need to pay for shipping and handling? I always ask to read over the terms and conditions of any warranty that I will be purchasing. It makes sense to know what your coverage is all about.

Now whenever I am facing the purchase of a big-ticket item:
Research to find out which models are of interest prior to shopping,
take time to read the fine print before completing the transaction,
find out if and how protection is provided under the law,
just in case you wish to change your mind,
fully inspect and investigate the item(s) you’re purchasing,
& ensure everything is there and that it is working properly prior to buying it.

Have you a consumer related issue that you need help with? Please email me at howard.buchin@sympatico.ca.