This year marks the sixth annual Canadian Fitness Industry Leadership Award. On March 14th, 2019, this award was presented to a Fitness Industry Council of Canada member who has, throughout the years, proven to be an industry leader. This individual is passionate about the wellbeing and promotion of the fitness industry and has contributed significantly to its growth.
FITNESS INDUSTRY COUNCIL OF CANADA IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE MAUREEN “MO” HAGAN AS THE 2019 RECIPIENT.
Maureen “Mo” Hagan has made a significant impact on the fitness industry, as an award-winning, innovative and passionate fitness expert and as a savvy business person. Mo has always been physically active. As a child, she gravitated to individual activities like running, climbing, hiking swimming. At age 13, she coached her first gymnastics class and learned about the potential and rewards of teaching physical activity to others.
While studying physical education and physiotherapy at the University of Western Ontario in the 1980s, Mo worked as a fitness instructor at #1 Nautilus, which later become the third GoodLife Fitness club in Canada. Inspired by the emerging aerobic dance exercise craze, Mo developed her own routines inspired by 20-minute workout, Jane Fonda and Kathy Smith videos. Not only did she teach aerobics, but she stayed late to train others to become fitness instructors.
Mo’s dedication was quickly realized by GoodLife Fitness founder and CEO David ‘Patch’ Patchell-Evans as he hired her as director of group fitness for his growing chain of fitness clubs. She has worked hard for more than 35 years to make GoodLife Fitness the premier destination for group fitness programming in Canada.
MO HAS ALWAYS BEEN PHYSICALLY ACTIVE. AS A CHILD, SHE GRAVITATED TO INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITIES LIKE RUNNING, CLIMBING, HIKING, SWIMMING.
She helped secure GoodLife’s Canadian exclusivity for Les Mills programs. Mo also introduced a comprehensive virtual fitness program that gives GoodLife members access to group fitness on their own schedule.
“It takes ingenuity to know the difference between a fad and a trend in this industry – Mo has that skill. She is one of the hardest working and most dedicated people I know. She’s an exceptional role model for women of all ages who want to make an impact and a difference, “said Patch, who also won the Canadian Fitness Industry Leadership award in 2016.
“IT TAKES INGENUITY TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FAD AND A TREND IN THIS INDUSTRY – MO HAS THAT SKILL. SHE IS ONE FO THE HARDEST WORKING AND MOST DEDICATED PEOPLE I KNOW. SHE’S AN EXCEPTIONAL ROLE MODEL FOR WOMEN OF ALL AGES WHO WANT TO MAKE AN IMPACT AND A DIFFERENCE.”
– DAVID PATCHEL-EVANS
Mo Hagan is now vice president of program innovation and fitness development for GoodLife, and canfitpro, the largest fitness education body in Canada. She has also maintained her qualifications as a licensed physiotherapist (BSc PT) and Physical Health Educator (BA PE) and holds multiple fitness certifications through ACE, canfitpro, LesMills, YogaFit, Flexi-Sport, and CALA.
Mo is well-known for creating NEWBODY, her own fitness class which combines the best of low impact cardio with functional strength conditional in an efficient workout for people of all levels. She has also authored two books based on the NewBody approach: NewBody Workout for Women – 6 Weeks to a Fit and Fabulous New You and 6 Weeks to a New Body.
Mo travels the world for speaking engagements to fulfill her passion to help move people forward in their fitness, health, and business in pursuit of helping people live a fit and healthy good life. Mo is a global ambassador for the benefits of exercise and healthy habits for all ages.
GoodLife Fitness president and COO Jan Ridell has worked with Mo since she joined the company. She admires Mo’s endless energy and enthusiasm and commends her on her tireless efforts to make fitness education affordable, accessible and applicable to everyone.
“Mo’s enthusiastic personality and passion for fitness make her one-of-a-kind. Not only is she knowledgeable about everything fitness-related, she genuinely cares about helping people live their best life. Mo has paved the way for many women in the fitness industry, as a role model, teacher, and champion.”
SHE ADMIRES MO’S ENDLESS ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM AND COMMENDS HER ON HER TIRELESS EFFORTS TO MAKE FITNESS EDUCATION AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE AND APPLICABLE TO EVERYONE.
Mo has received international acclaim for her efforts and has won many awards including: IHRSA’s Woman Leader of the Year, Canada’s Top 100 Fitness Influencer, Canada’s 20 Most Influential Women in Sport and Physical Activity, BodyWise International Personal Achievement Award, BodyLIfe Educator of the Year and both IDEA Health & Fitness Association Fitness Instructor and Program Directory of the Year.
FIC is grateful for Maureen “Mo” Hagan’s continued contribution to the growth of our industry. It is an honour to present the 2019 Canadian Fitness Industry Leadership Award to Mo, a true inspiration to innovation and education.
