Type Private Founded 1913 Number of locations 1 (May 2012) | Genre Fitness, Health Clubs Founder William Oliphant, Sr. | |
Headquarters Toronto, Ontario, Canada | ||
Oliphant's Gym, also known as Oliphant's Academy of Physical Culture, is a historic gym in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1913 by William Oliphant Sr. It is claimed to be one of the oldest continually operating gyms in North America. Run by William Oliphant Sr.'s son Buster Oliphant Jr. until the heir's death in 1996, the gym has a long history in Toronto's Annex neighbourhood and its character has been preserved through the decades. Since 1996, the gym has been operated by its members on a non-profit and volunteer basis.
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History
Oliphant's Gym was founded in 1913 as Oliphant's Academy of Physical Culture and operated out of the basement of St. Andrew's Church in Toronto's downtown area. Beginning with its founder, the gym established a tradition of contributing to the "advancement of weight lifting and body building". It has operated at its current Dupont Street location in Toronto's Annex neighbourhood since the 1980s.
The gym celebrated its 100th anniversary on November 24, 2013. In celebration of the anniversary, a motion was made to the Toronto and East York Community Council to rename a street as "William Oliphant Lane" to honor the gym's founder, William Oliphant, Sr. The motion was supported by Toronto city Councillor for Ward 20, Adam Vaughan.