David “Patch” Patchell-Evans is the founder and CEO of GoodLife Fitness, Canada’s largest fitness club chain, and the fourth largest in the world.
He opened his first gym in London, Ontario in 1979, using earnings from his snowplowing business. Forty years later, he has grown the company to over 400 GoodLife Fitness, Fit4Less and ÉconoFitness clubs across Canada. With 1.5 million members, GoodLife is helping to transform the health and wellness of Canadians every day.
Patchell-Evans is also a global advocate for fitness. He is currently the President of canfitpro, Canada’s largest fitness education and certification body, and the past Chair of the IHRSA, the world’s leading health and fitness association.
Beyond GoodLife, Patchell-Evans has been a two-time bestselling author, and a five-time Canadian rowing champion. He and GoodLife have received over 25 awards including the international Iconic Brand Award, Canada’s Best Managed Companies, Canada’s Best Gym, Canada’s Most Admired CEO, Entrepreneur of the Year, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. In 2012, Patchell-Evans received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws Degree from Western University.
Patchell-Evans is a notable philanthropist. On his own and via GoodLife he has given over $40 million to various non-profits across Canada. In 2007, he was awarded the Medal of Honour by the Canadian Medical Association for his passionate support of autism research and for founding of The Kilee Patchell-Evans Autism Research Group.
In 2012, GoodLife Fitness pledged $5 million to the Peter Munk Cardiac Care Centre at Toronto’s University Health Network. That created the GoodLife Fitness Centre of Excellence in Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Medicine.
Through the GoodLife Kids Foundation, Patchell-Evans works to provide physical activity opportunities to children with special needs. Since 2012, the foundation has raised over $6.1 million, and touched the lives of over 255,000 children.
