Roots Strength Fitness

by Angela Sanford

Something strong is coming to Kennetcook and I isn’t a second coffee shop. Roots Strength Fitness is looking to launch their opening in the fall of 2026 – offering a wide array of fitness experiences to meet your needs and ability levels.

    Years ago, Steve Anthony, set up a “members” gym in the loft of his sister and brother-in-law’s garage. How I enjoyed my daily visits there, often in solitaire, though on occasion in the company of a handful of others.

    Then, our boys began their boxing journey and start training in Sackville. Since I was there anyhow, I, too, began training which lasted until Devin was old enough and had his own driver’s license, when I no longer needed to be the taxi mom. It was then that I started my workout regime at home. With a sporadic brief hiatus, I did a daily cardio, strength and conditioning routine. I decided to return to a gym and joined one in Elmsdale, for a short period, but as easily defeated in Winter when I had to leave long before sunrise to complete the workout, shower and prep, and continue into the city for work, so I cancelled my membership and started at home once again.

  I was very much engaged in the workout, overall, trying deftly to lose weight and was mostly unsuccessful until two years ago when other factors came to light. Despite how much I enjoy the workout and feel better for starting my day with the focus, exercising at home can be easy to avoid, at times – due to distractions, not feeling like I’m wasting my membership payment, no one to motivate (read ‘socialize with’) me, etc.

  Lately, I’ve been trying to regenerate my routine and am successful for a week or so, then distractions take over yet again and I lose my motive. I miss the opportunity Steve provided – close, easy access, membership fee that I did not want to throw down the drain, potential for socialization, and no home distractions, most of all. It was a committed space, available when I was, and I wish I had that once again. And I’ve heard from others that they’d like the same.

  Further to this, I’ve been asked numerous times if Wyatt would be starting boxing classes locally, would he/we be opening a gym, why don’t you get something like that started here? So, the answer is “WE ARE!” We’ve talked about it before, we’ve hypothesized about what it could look like and how the community would benefit, and we’re ready to launch our initial plans.

  Of course, there are MANY details to be resolved, but until then then first step is complete – the business has been incorporated. The second step is underway – acquiring the land to make this goal a reality. Lucky for us, we have found a land owner who shares our enthusiasm for this community and our enterprise and has agreed to sell us a property right here in the Kennetcook.

   Nothing good comes quick or easy so more details will come as Roots Strength Fitness prepares to open its doors in the fall of 2026 and as the goal unfolds.