"Our intent," says Scott Cousens, founder and chairman of Fortius Sport & Health, "is to reach out into the community to provide opportunities to those who wouldn't normally have access to facilities like this and do something that's never been done in Canadian sport before."
That something is a charitable organization founded in 2003 when Scott committed to making a lead donation of $23 million "with a view to impacting the health of the nation, with a specific focus on our youth."
The sports facility, built and located on land purchased by the Fortius Foundation, opened in May 2013. "It is the perfect spot," says Fortius' online and social media marketing specialist, Iris Klein. "It's within the Burnaby Sports Complex and easily accessible with ample parking."
