When Brett Roberts and Mike Ives opened the doors of 782 Fitness in Charlottetown in 2014, their vision was simple: build a welcoming gym where people of all abilities could be part of a supportive fitness community that helps people reach their goals. But not long after they opened their second location in Stratford in 2019, the pandemic and realities of running multiple locations meant that their vision was deepening to include an understanding that inclusion isn’t just a value, it’s a part of smart business strategy.
Like many small business owners, Brett and Mike felt the strain during the pandemic. Health and safety protocols changed daily, expectations around cleanliness skyrocketed, and staffing was unpredictable and a real strain. “It was exhausting,” Brett remembers. “Mike and I would have to help clean every night. And we couldn’t cut corners—it’s a gym, cleanliness is essential to people’s comfort and safety.” At the same time, margins in the fitness industry are slim, and a full-time cleaner wasn’t realistic.
The problem was obvious: a critical role existed in the business, but they would need to think outside of the box to solve it. The turning point came when Brett connected with Adam Spence, the local Labour Market Facilitator with Ready, Willing & Able (RWA). While 782 Fitness had previously worked with some disability organizations on inclusive fitness programming, the idea of being a disability inclusive employer was something they hadn’t fully explored. Through RWA, they were introduced to candidates from a variety of employment support providers in the community. They were given a pool of potential candidates that were motivated to work but many of them were not looking for full-time hours. “The light bulb went off,” Brett recalls. “We realized we didn’t need to force the role into a full-time box. It was the perfect fit for someone who wanted steady, important work, on a part-time basis.”
That’s how David came on board. David, who is on the autism spectrum, was hired in 2020 to focus on keeping the facility clean, organized, and welcoming. Since we last featured David and 782 Fitness, David has been a part of the 782 Fitness team for five years. “David’s always been a reliable, hard worker. He shows up every day focused on completing his weekly checklist,” says Alex Arsenault, Gym Manager. “CrossFit gyms are particularly challenging places to keep clean due to the amount of sweat, chalk, dust, and dirt that accumulates throughout the many daily classes. David does an excellent job ensuring our members walk into a consistently clean gym every day. He is an important part of not only our business but the 782 Fitness community.”
For MaKenna Guthrie, Gym Manager, David has continually “helped reinforce our culture. Everyone on the team knows that what they contribute matters, no matter their role. David’s consistency makes the rest of us better.”
The experience has been transformative for the business, Brett observes. “Figuring out what you need to be sustainable as a business is the first step, and it’s something you’re always rethinking,” he explains. “There will always be challenges. A good business is spotting those needs and rethinking solutions. Innovate or perish. And for us, inclusive employment has pushed us to innovate and think differently. RWA helped us see how to fill it in a way that also strengthened our team. That’s a win-win.”
Their approach to staffing has shifted permanently. Today, Brett and Mike consider inclusion part of their hiring lens, not an afterthought. “Once you see how well it works,” Brett says, “you don’t go back.” It also aligns with their culture. 782 Fitness programs have long welcomed people with a variety of abilities. Having a workforce that mirrors that diversity has only strengthened the sense of community; “Our members see themselves reflected in our staff, and that tells people: you belong here.”
The lesson Brett and Mike hope other employers will take away is straightforward: inclusion is good for business. “If you’re only looking at hiring through the same lens as always, you’ll miss opportunities. There are real needs in your business that you might not be addressing because you’re thinking in a one-size-fits-all way. Inclusive employment helps you spot those needs and solve them differently.”
Alex agrees: “When you hire inclusively, you’re not just checking a box. You’re building a stronger team. David’s role proves that. It’s about seeing value in different forms. Our team is more cohesive and more resilient because it includes people with different skills and perspectives.”
The success of inclusive hiring at 782 Fitness didn’t happen by chance. It happened because Brett and Mike took the initiative—they connected with Ready, Willing & Able, which worked with its partners to provide support, resources, and candidate connections. “If you’re an employer,” Brett says, “don’t overcomplicate it. Think about what your business really needs. Then talk to RWA. They’ll help you find someone who can meet that need, and you’ll be surprised at how it changes the way you think about your workforce.”
For 782 Fitness, inclusion is more than a practice. It’s a strategy for innovation and sustainability. As Brett puts it, “Innovation through inclusion has made us a stronger, more sustainable business.”