Hard Knox

A friendly ambiance and a hard workout await at Herby Whyne’s HardKnox Gym. The idea of opening a gym came to Herby in 2004 when two of the gyms he had previously taught at closed to make way for condos. "I thought it was a good time forme to open my own gym, and so I did," he recalls.

"I wanted to open a neighbourhood gym, that’s why I chose Saint-Henri. I love the area; it has a lot of character, grit, but at the same time there’s a neighbourhoody feel you can’t find anywhere else in Montreal. People talk to each other, are acquainted," says Herby.

Some gyms can be intimidating to new clients, but that’s not the case at Herby’s. HardKnox Gym strives to be warm and welcoming to people of all ages and genders. "While it’s a very hard-working environment, the ambiance is inviting; I want everyone to feel amongst friends and the place to be as comfortable as possible for everyone. We have clients in their 60s and 70s, a lot of women. That unique ambiance of mutual respect is very important to us," Herby explains.