10/01/2026
After 20 years in the Okotoks Recreation Centre, Natural High Fitness has shut its doors. The lease between the Town of Okotoks and Natural High Fitness has concluded. We will continue to operate Natural High CrossFit, the second longest standing CrossFit facility in Canada, and are excited to continue to provide an amazing workout environment for Okotoks citizens through our efforts there.
Leaving a thriving business and a robust fitness community we have hearts filled with gratitude for the 20 years we’ve had the privilege of owning and operating Natural High Fitness in the Okotoks Recreation Centre. Looking back to the beginning, we can still picture the brown paper covering the windows before our Grand Opening as my wifte and I worked inside—drywalling, painting, building and dreaming—with our baby sleeping in a car seat nearby. We didn’t know where the journey would lead, only that we were creating something we believed in. We began at the recreation centre with just two family passes, and from those humble beginnings, Natural High Fitness grew into more than we could have imagined.
Through it all, the heart of Natural High Fitness has been the incredible people who walked through our doors. Whether you have been with us from the beginning or joined us somewhere along the way, you became part of the dream. We are deeply grateful to our members and participants for your loyalty, encouragement, and the joy you have brought to our lives. For every workout, conversation, laugh, friendship and milestone shared along the way—thank you.
We began with a passion for health and fitness and a desire to help people feel stronger, healthier and more confident through movement. Over the years, NH became about so much more. We’ve had the privilege of walking alongside people through personal victories and milestones, as well as injuries, life-changing diagnoses and difficult seasons. NH programs became places of connection, friendship and support through life’s highs and lows. Through training, coaching, classes and countless conversations, we’ve watched people discover their strength, achieve things they never thought possible and build healthy habits for life. Knowing we have made a meaningful difference in people’s lives has been one of the greatest gifts of this journey. What began as our dream became our community and a treasured part of our family’s story. We hope we’ve impacted your lives as deeply as you have ours.
And then there is our staff. It is difficult to put into words what this remarkable group of people has meant to us. Regardless of when they arrived, they became part of the Natural High family. Together, we have celebrated milestones, worked through long days, laughed—a lot—watched our children and families grow, learned from one another and stood beside each other during some of life's more difficult moments. Through all of it, we grew together. Our staff have been nothing short of exceptional. Their dedication, positivity, professionalism and genuine care for the people who walked through our doors are what made Natural High Fitness the place so many people have loved for so many years. A business may begin with an idea, but it becomes something meaningful because of the people who bring that idea to life every single day. For that, we will always be grateful.
We hope our community will have many fond memories of the events we organized or assisted with, such as the ten years we ran the Natural High Charity Triathlon, the one and only ever Okotoks Marathon, and Okotoks Cyclocross. We will carry with us great pride in how we’ve served through our business, but more importantly, great friendships and community connections.
As two small-town Southern Alberta kids, my wife and I grew up believing that community means showing up, helping where you can, and giving back. For us, being an active part of our community was simply who we were and what we believed good local business should be. We are incredibly proud of 20 years of supporting local initiatives, organizations, events and causes. Sometimes that meant financial support or sponsorship. Other times it meant donating our time, our space, our energy or simply rolling up our sleeves and helping wherever help was needed. We were especially grateful to have been involved on the ground floor of several initiatives that continue to make a difference today. Others have evolved or paved the way for new initiatives, reminding us that you may never fully know the reach of something you helped begin. Looking back, we are proud not only of what we built, but of what we had the privilege of helping build together with our community. Examples of these are KidSport Okotoks, Dementia Friendly Communities, Go2 Active Communities, and the Regional Fieldhouse. Additionally, we’re grateful for the opportunity to have served and contributed over many years to the Okotoks and District Chamber of Commerce, the Sheep River Health Trust, the Okotoks Rotary Club, Okotoks Basketball Association, our Church Parish Community, and many others.
While this chapter may be coming to a close, our connection to this community certainly is not. This is our home, and we’ll continue to show up, contribute and cheer people on—just in new ways. So thank you—for the memories, the friendships, the trust, and for making a dream that began so many years ago mean more than we ever imagined. Our Natural High Fitness Family will always have a special place in our hearts. We look forward to seeing where our paths cross next.
