Kornerstone Barbell lifting spirits

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This article was published 02/07/2021 (1393 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba cousins Kurt and Jayms Kornelsen aren’t letting the weight of the pandemic keep them from lifting their passion project, Kornerstone Barbell – off the ground.

The Rivertown turkey farmers turned powerlifter competitors and coaches started their entrepreneurial journey as co-owners with Mark Oxer in 2019, when they took their equipment from their cold garage and into a bigger, warmer storage unit.

Kurt is a full-time contractor and Jayms is a Certified Exercise Physiologist through the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology.

Over many years of collecting equipment, education, and experience, the duo with their business partner decided to expand into a storage unit in Ile des Chênes and create Kornerstone Barbell.

Kurt said the meaning is “to be the corner stone in someone’s life.”

“We’re ready to support anyone who walks through that door,” said Jayms.

Of course, Jayms said that figuratively as current restrictions limit the capacity to their facility at any given time but were able to peak about five before the third wave of restrictions.

To reach out and support their clients, Kornerstone went virtual by providing online training, programming, and coaching to those working out at home.

Kornerstone Barbell offers online team programming and team memberships, but Kurt said it’s hard to put a price on the knowledge, experience, and training they offer.

The equipment in the unit itself costs more than $50,000, without adding bills, time, and marketing expenses.

All the time and money is an investment toward the future with the goal to grow, and the RM of Ritchot is supporting their endeavour.

In city council’s last meeting, the council approved Kornerstone to allow an Indoor Participant Recreation Service in an Industrial General (MG) zone.

This brings them a step closer to set everything up and officially be a gym and be able to open the door for more people looking to get stronger.

“We’re very excited to see what this place can offer the community when the gym opens up,” said Kurt.

Kornerstone currently has a total of 50 clients with 30 across the province and 20 all throughout Canada.