Economic Club of Canada

David Patchell-Evans

Founder and Owner GoodLife Fitness

GoodLife Fitness founder and owner David Patchell-Evans’ vision—to give all Canadians the opportunity for to live a healthy and fit good life. The company was founded in 1979 as one club while ‘Patch’, as he likes to be called, was still a university student in London, Ontario. Remarkably GoodLife grew by 100% in 2009 and now has close to 300 clubs stretching across Canada from Newfoundland to Victoria. With a focus on corporate culture and hiring like-minded experts, GoodLife dominates Canada where 1 in every 45 Canadians is a GoodLife member. The company, in fact is the 5th largest fitness company in the world.

A dynamic leader, Patch is a favourite focus for media stories. In any given period Patch appears on magazine covers in publications such as Club Business International out of Boston; Club Solutions (Louisville, Kentucky), Zoomer Magazine (Canada) and makes headline news in the National Post, Globe and Mail, Chronical Herald (Atlantic Canada), Calgary Sun, CBC, CTV and community newspapers and television and radio broadcasts across the country. A sampling of headlines in 2009 proclaimed:

GoodLife Fitness to open in glass-wall top floor of Bay Centre – Victoria Times Colonist (CanWest Media)
Canadian Tire Transforms into Fitness Club – Orleans Star
Tyee Road gym re-opens as GoodLife Fitness (Victoria West) – Times Columnist
The Country’s Most Admired Cultures are Outperforming the Rest – despite the economic downturn
Energie Cardio and GoodLife Join Forces
GoodLife Takes on Quebec partner
GoodLife Fitness expands Atlantic presence by acquiring Nubody’s Fitness
Corporate Culture Gives An Edge
Tour de Fitness- IHRSA Chairperson David Patchell-Evans has Global Objectives
Teamwork That Spells Success – National Post

Patch in 2009 accepted the position of Chair of the IHRSA Board of Directors.  IHRSA is the leading health and fitness association in the world representing over 100 million club members in 78 countries.  Constantly in motion, Patch travels over 200,000 kilometers per year as a global advocate for health and fitness.  That’s the equivalent of five times around the globe!

After winning the 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures Award in Canada, Patch will also serve on their Board of Directors in 2010.

Having competed and won five Canadian Rowing Championships, Patch is a true patriot and proud that his company is 100% Canadian. Leading his team, Patch is passionate about the health and well-being of GoodLife’s 750,000 members.  He is a graduate of physical education from the University of Western Ontario and President of the Canadian Fitness Professionals which holds educational conferences in key locations across Canada and is the largest certification body in Canada for the fitness profession. He was honoured to run the Olympic Torch during its relay across Canada.
 
Both GoodLife and its CEO have garnered some of the most prestigious awards in the country.  Recognition for the company includes 7 consecutive wins as one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies 2003 – 2009.

In September 2009 Patch’s 2nd book, the Real Sexy, Smart and Strong, launched and achieved immediate international best seller status. His first book, Living the Good Life, has exceeded 1 million copies in paperback and audio book format.

All proceeds from both books support autism research by the Kilee Patchell-Evans Autism Research Group at the University of Western Ontario. Over the past 5 years, Patch has personally donated over $3 million to fund this 16 member team named in honour of his autistic daughter. Collaborating with researchers at universities and hospitals around the world, this team is conducting ground-breaking research at a time when autism is affecting 1 in every 91 children.  In 2007 David Patchell-Evans was recognized for his contribution to autism research and education by receiving the Canadian Medical Association, Medal of Honour.

Patch’s final inspiration:
One of my favourite sayings is “good enough is good enough”.  I have no idea where it came from but I am fairly certain that no one other than me has ever used it in relation to fitness. Let’s be clear that fit is not about being athletic, it’s about being healthy. It’s not about perfection; it’s about knowing when you have reached a good enough level.  It’s easy. All you need is 30 minutes of exercise, three times a week, to feel at home in your body, to have more energy and confidence and to stay fit and healthy for life!”

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