Introducing the Fitness Lair team!
Meet our team of enthusiastic fitness nerds who are so excited to help you achieve your goals!
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Our founder
Lindsey Barber
I saw a need for a revolution in the fitness world, and I knew I wanted to be a part of it.
From a young age, I was always drawn to sports and physical activity. I was that kid in the 90s running around, counting my pulse to follow a heart rate-based running program. As a young adult, I frequented gyms but often felt lost without guidance. I’d find myself on the treadmill, waiting for my arms to show definition, while feeling too intimidated to venture into the weight area. The fear of looking out of place kept me from trying.
Like many, I believed that achieving the look I wanted meant following the latest fad diet or signing up for programs like Herbal Magic. I was wrong.
Then I found CrossFit, and it was like a breath of fresh air.
“Lift weights? Sure, we’ll teach you how.”
“Eat to fuel your activity with quality foods, and make sure you’re getting enough protein at every meal—and yes, don’t forget the carbs.”
Carbs? I can eat carbs?
CrossFit was exactly what I needed. Having a coach to guide me completely changed the trajectory of my health and life. It was the first time I felt empowered—not just to get skinny, but to be strong, to eat well, and to pursue health and fitness as a lifestyle.
I fell in love with everything about it—the workouts, the community, and what CrossFit stands for: Preventative Health Care. Instead of waiting to get sick and hoping doctors can save us, we can take control of our wellness and stay as far from sickness as possible through our daily habits and routines.
This passion led me to bring this approach to my community in Unity. In 2013, we started small, but with a big vision. We’ve since grown, moving three times to accommodate our expanding programs, evolving from ‘CrossFit Lair’ into ‘Fitness Lair.’ Today, we offer Ladies and Men’s LIFT, Fit For Function classes, and private/semi-private training.
I am forever grateful for the incredible team that has helped us along the way. The impact we’ve had on our community is profound, from teens achieving their sports dreams, to members gaining the confidence to start their own businesses, to athletes becoming parents who now model healthy living for their kids. We’ve seen non-athletes fall in love with fitness, members find purpose and passion and become coaches themselves, athletes compete on world stages earning medals for Canada, and even grandmas finding the energy to keep up with their grandkids. We’ve helped people regain the ability to do the everyday things that once seemed impossible, like taking the stairs at home.
Looking inside our gym, you can see the proof—what we do here works. And my heart is full because of it.
CrossFit L2
CrossFit Weightlifting
Precision Nutrition L1
Our coaches
Jenna Polreis
Jenna is now our Head Coach and Manager who educates and inspires our team as well as brings her expertise and charisma to our classes when she is on the floor.
She had always wanted to coach at the Lair since joining right after high school. She saw the life changing effects the Lair has on our members so she returned after obtaining her masters while practicing Physiotherapy in a clinical setting.
Masters of Physical Therapy, B.Sci.(Kin)
CrossFit L1
Darlene Sopyc
Darlene has a knack for helping members overcome their own limiting beliefs and obstacles, helping them believe in themselves to achieve great things.
She is a compassionate coach who will always hold members to the standard she knows they are capable of.
She is a founding member of the Lair and has found a passion in fitness and helping others.
CrossFit L1
Valerie Thomas
Val Thomas
Val loves sharing her passion for fitness and nutrition with others and teaching members her ways to help them achieve a healthy, sustainable lifestyle.
She has been with is since the beginning as well, becoming a dedicated athlete and coach who is a walking example of what this lifestyle can accomplish.
Val believes that hard work is important but it’s also important to have fun as well! You will work hard in her classes but you will also get to have many laughs and have the best time, if you are lucky, you might see some air guitar or singing into a PVC pipe!
CrossFit L1
Precision Nutrition L1
Shauna Hammer
Shauna, a founding member, is no longer living in Unity but she is still a big part of our team. She brings powerlifting and nutrition expertise as a world level Masters Powerlifter and Level 2 Precision Nutrition Coach.
She works with remote clients online as well as heads Mission Nutrition, our in house Nutrition Program at the Lair.
Shauna has a special way of listening, communicating and supporting our members that makes difficult topics easy to understand and apply to real life.
CrossFit L1
Precision Nutrition-L2
Heather Kelly
Heather Kelly brings her genuine spirit and cares deeply about all the people around her.
Overcoming mental health battles herself, she is here to inspire and help members who struggle to find themselves, find their best self.
She has a lot to teach others through her own experience and loves to help anyone.
CF L1
Sara Brown
Sara is leader by example; she works hard, is extremely humble, so genuine and kind and somehow balances it all with 5 girls, most of them who all excel in sports at a high level.
Not only is she incredible on the gym floor as an athlete and coach, but also is our Admin who takes care of all the ins and outs of the backend of the Lair.
Sara is a founding member as well who brings joy to everyone around her and brings out the best in our members.
CF L1
Virginia Wallis
Virginia has a superpower of making any new comer feel welcome and a part of the community.
Not only does she care deeply about our members, but she also cares for our plants and makes sure they are thriving as well!
Virginia joined our community when she moved here. Looking to make new friends in a strange town, we welcomed her with open arms and have been so happy to have her join our team a few years later.
CF L1
Jaclyn Romanowski
Jaclyn is a straight shooter, but in the most caring way. She wants what is best for anyone and will go to great lengths to help our members.
She is detailed orientated and is always curious on how to improve herself and help her athletes in her class become their best.
Jaclyn is another import of ours <3. She did CrossFit in Camrose before moving to Unity. After she dropped in a few times we hoped some day she would move here for good and our dreams came true.
Did I mention her laugh? So infectious!
CF L1
Erika Riemer
Erika has a superpower of helping anyone feel comfortable in uncomfortable situations. She’s been there, she gets it. It’s hard to start something new, especially a gym.
She is a self-proclaimed “lazy” who found sports and fitness a little foreign as a young adult, but now she is a powerhouse of fitness and personality who helps others believe, they too can do it.
Erika is not only a great coach but also our Client success manager, in house photographer, and social media gal.
She will meet you with a big smile and a big wave and welcome you with open arms…and give some gentle nudges if she hasn’t seen you around the gym in a while ;).
CF L1
Laura Bioré
Laura moved here from Quebec as an RCMP officer. She too had been doing CrossFit for years before moving to the Prairies.
She has a bubbly personality that strongly believes that life is meant to be lived and we should prioritize our health and fitness, but only in a way that adds to our life and does not take away.
“It’s not that serious you guys :p”
Her method works and her vibrancy rubs off on all of us on the coaching floor!
CF L1
Shelby
Truly the queen of the operation. Shelby is here to offer all the emotional support one needs from walking in to the gym for the first time, to being there after a tough workout.
She also likes to lead the mobility/stretching portion of the class and teaches us all that rest is also important.