After a 26-plus year career in competitive gymnastics, John Craig said he planned his permanent relocation to Haliburton County this past winter expecting to leave his old coaching life behind him. Then he met Kathy Judson.
Craig will serve as head coach at the new Haliburton Gymnastics facility once it opens next month. Located at 367 Industrial Park Rd., the 8,000 sq. ft. space will feature recreational and competitive gymnastics programs for County youth aged three to 17. A soft opening is planned Aug. 17.
After buying a cottage on Drag Lake in 2023, Craig said he’d been looking for reasons to spend more time in the Highlands. He was here for extended weekends, Friday to Tuesday, spending a couple of days coaching in Port Elgin. The four-hour drive wore on him quickly, Craig said.
Already contemplating his long-term future, Craig spotted one of Judson’s early social media posts asking people if they wanted to see a specialized gymnastics program come to the Highlands. He completed a survey and offered to help Judson, having experience helping to get new programs off the ground, most recently in Hanover.
A couple of days later, Craig received an offer from Bruce County for his gym building. A deal closed in the spring. It was all very serendipitous, the trainer said.
In recent weeks, Craig said it’s been a bit of a rush deconstructing his Port Elgin space and getting the Haliburton facility set up. He either sold or donated all his equipment to Haliburton Gymnastics.
“There’s a lot we’re bringing in – there will be a major climbing wall, full spring floor and tumble track, vault table, vault strip and landing area. We’ll also have two balance beams, three sets of uneven bars and one set of high parallel bars,” Craig said.
After excelling in soccer, football and rugby in his youth, Craig said he was surprised when he took a liking to trampoline in his first year at Queen’s University. He learned under Wingee Lee, a junior national champion in the sport.
“Wingee was doing some really cool things, and I decided I wanted to do that too,” Craig said. “Eventually, I started helping to coach.”
He started taking his courses and, in 1995, started running his first gym. By the time he was finished his degree, Craig was both competing and coaching at the national level. His best result as an athlete was fifth place at a national meet in 2001, though Craig has had a hand in developing eight provincial champions.
The head coach said he’s excited to help guide up-and-coming gymnasts in the County. Competitive tryouts will begin in August.
“This is a great opportunity for kids – anyone signing up will learn agility, balance, coordination and spatial orientation as part of their physical fitness journey. In terms of mental focus and organization, it’s second to none. You learn to get disciplined quick,” Craig said.
Seven months after going public with her plans, Judson said it feels surreal to be planning the gym’s opening. A schedule of classes went live last week, with an enormous response.
“There has been a lot of bumps along the way, but they always seemed to smooth themselves out. The community showed up for me, and for these kids, time and again,” Judson said. “I feel like I’m just facilitating other people’s hard work.”
To date, Judson said she’s received approximately $107,000 in in-kind and cash donations, with major contributions from businesses like Haliburton Electric, Paradigm Electric, Kegel Heating and Cooling, and The Pump Shop. She also thanked Dysart et al mayoral candidate and retired Ontario land surveyor Greg Bishop for his assistance meeting demands set out by the township’s planning department.
There has also been a $100,000 loan provided by the Haliburton County Development Corporation.
“The outpouring of support has been amazing – we couldn’t have done this without our community.”
Judson said Craig will be one of about 10 coaches – though she hopes more will come forward to help. As an instructor, Craig can teach people to become licensed coaches.
A grand opening of the space will be held Sept. 12, Judson confirmed. To register for programs, visit haliburtongymnastics. uplifterinc.com.
