Queer Fit Club is a much-needed safe haven for Regina’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community and their allies, providing free and inclusive workouts to everyone
“We essentially are a pop-up movement-based group for queer people and allies, with obviously the focus being on building community and confidence,” said Michael Betteridge, the founder of Queer Fit Club and an active member of the queer community.
“I grew up playing competitive sports, loved it, loved the team environment, the competitive nature of it. It really gave me that sense of belonging and community that I really enjoyed.”
“My love and affinity for group fitness started at Wheelhouse Cycle Club, getting to see the benefits of not only the actual exercise, but the community and the mental well-being that goes along with the sense of community that you get through group fitness.”
This is where Betteridge’s concept of doing something “queer-centric” stemmed from. He explained that he wanted to make sure that anyone and everyone who supports and welcomes the community is encouraged to join him in his journey to create something special and different.
“I sat on this concept for a while. I knew I wanted to do something, but I kept putting it off until one day I sat down for 14 hours and crushed out the entire concept and business plan. Created the website, looped in a graphic designer and booked a photo shoot. All in one day.”
Betteridge’s personal quest for fitness has grown into introducing a space of belonging and connection through movement by bringing free and inclusive workouts to the community and allies.
“In general, the group fitness industry in Canada and even more so in Saskatchewan, 10 years ago, is definitely not what it is today. So it wasn’t as easy to find places that had a feeling for group fitness,” said Betteridge
Betteridge opened up about receiving pushback and negativity, attributing it to Saskatchewan being a more conservative province.
“There are always going to be naysayers, and when it’s something queer specific and different, people are going to have opinions about it.”
“The queer community in Regina is very, very small. So, it’s challenging to get people out. We’ve had events that have had 10 people and events that have had 120,” said Betteridge.
He acknowledges that the community is present but finding more approachable and comfortable ways to invite people has been a challenge he is working towards.
“It’s really easy to want to be a part of the movement that he’s wanting to create with the Queer Fit Club; in that he just wants to spread his wings with love and pull people together,” said Dakota Agecoutay (They/Them), an ambassador with Queer Fit Club since January.
“Being a part of his team was a no-brainer. Michael and I have been friends for a number of years. We met at the Wheelhouse Cycle Club. It is really easy to want to be a part of the movement he’s wanting to create with the Queer Fit Club. It was a very easy commitment for me.”
It’s much easier said than done, Agecoutay said. Believe in your own power and reach out to your people; trusting yourself, the process and leaning on your people, that’s where the magic happens.
Agecoutay hopes that this brings up a bigger conversation regarding the importance of representation and helping people know that they are not alone.
“He is bridging a really important gap in the community. Michael very much preaches a sense of belonging and inclusivity to everyone, no matter what their fitness ability or any other parts of their identity,” said Erika Pedersen, a co-worker at the Wheelhouse Cycle Club.
With 700 members and counting, the message Betteridge and Queer Fit Club have been sending to the community hasn’t fallen on deaf ears. They have successfully expanded their club into Winnipeg, with plans to open a Calgary branch in the near future.
