The Mayor for Ritchot says it is very exciting to know that a gymnastics club is interested in building a new centre in his municipality.

A delegation from Prairie Reign Gymnastics appeared before Ritchot Council with a conditional use application. The club requested permission to operate an indoor participant recreation service in an Industrial Agricultural zone. The request was for units 10 and 11 at 610 Discovery Drive in Grande Pointe.

"Even though they are renting, they had to come in with a conditional use application to explain what the business was," explains Chris Ewen. "So we got to hear a little bit about it."

According to Ewen, they had a "knock out, rock solid business plan." He calls it very exciting.

Ewen says it sounds as though they would like to rent the space for about two years and then come back to Council to request building their own permanent facility.

Ewen notes Council was unanimous in approving this application. He says he has heard nothing negative from the public.

"I think once the facility is there you are going to see an outstanding amount of support from local residents," says Ewen. "I know people are dying to get into different activities and different sports."

Ewen says gymnastics is not typically something you see in a small, rural area and he thinks residents will really appreciate the opportunity.

According to the club's website, Prairie Reign Gymnastics was founded by Andrea Conquergood, Amanda McCormick and Corie McCormick Colliou in March 2020. The three put a plan in action after another gymnastics club announced it would no longer provide classes for competitive athletes, resulting in the displacement of more than 25 young athletes.

"It's nice to see someone with experience starting a business and again I cannot trust enough how great their business plan was," notes Ewen. "I wish them years and years of success but they don't need luck to do that."