Scarborough, ONMembers + Drop-insOpen · 5:30 am - 10:00 pm
Caribbean (Afro)
English
About
Membership
Gallery
Our Trainers
About Island
We didn't build a gym. We built the place we wanted to train at where the music makes sense, the coaches look like our community, and nobody has to translate themselves at the door.
Scarborough's Caribbean-rooted strength community group classes, open gym, and coaches who know your name by week two.
Why we built this
I trained in gyms for fifteen years where I was the only Black face on the floor. Nobody was unkind but nobody got it either. Island Strength is the gym where our community doesn't have to explain itself before it can start lifting.
Owners
AN
Andre Nelson
Co-founder · Head Coach
Trinidadian-Canadian, competitive powerlifter, former Olympic lifting coach.
KC
Keisha Carter
Co-founder · Director of Programming
Kinesiologist (M.Sc.), 15 years in strength & conditioning.
The space
5,400 sq ft of training space, equipment, and recovery facilities.
6 Lifting Platforms
Calibrated barbells, Eleiko plates, plyo boxes
Turf Strip
40 ft sled track, sprint & carry work
Kettlebell Wall
Full range 4-48 kg, competition-grade
Boxing Area
Heavy bags, speed bags, mat space
Sauna
4-person, members only
Showers & Lockers
Private stalls, day-use lockers free
Lounge & Café
Roti, smoothies, recovery drinks
Open 16.5 hrs/day
5:30 am - 10:00 pm, 7 days
Accessibility
Step-free entrance
Accessible washrooms, wide-door changerooms
Parking
12 spots on-site
Free for members, $5 drop-ins
Transit
5 min walk
Lawrence East & Birchmount stops
Weekly class schedule
Open classes included with all memberships. Drop-ins welcome at $25/class.
Mon
6:30 am
Strength Foundations
Squat, bench, deadlift — programmed progression. All levels.
60 min · Andre Nelson · 12 spots
5 left
Mon
7:00 pm
Women's Lifting Group
Strength training for women, beginners welcome.
75 min · Keisha Carter · 10 spots
Full · Join waitlist
Tue
6:00 am
HIIT Conditioning
High-intensity intervals, kettlebell and bodyweight focus.
45 min · Devon Ali · 15 spots
8 left
Wed
6:30 pm
Olympic Lifting
Snatch and clean & jerk technique. Some experience required.
90 min · Andre Nelson · 8 spots
3 left
Thu
5:30 pm
Boxing Fundamentals
Footwork, stance, basic combinations. No sparring.
60 min · Marlon Andrade · 12 spots
7 left
Sat
10:00 am
Community Lift
Open training session, music up loud, all welcome. Drop-in $25.
2 hours · Group · Drop-in
Open
Membership & drop-ins
Drop-in
$25/visit
No commitment. Pay as you go.
Full gym access
Day-use locker
Most popular
Monthly Unlimited
$129/month
Full access, classes included.
Unlimited access
All open classes
Sauna
Free parking
Founding Member
$89/month
First 100 members, locked for life.
Everything in Monthly Unlimited
Student / Senior
20% off Monthly
Valid ID required
Trial
7-day pass
$35, includes one class
The space
Take a look inside.
Follow us
Member highlights, class clips, and what's happening on the floor this week.
