Our Story
Look, we didn't start EmberForge just to open another gym. Back in 2019, three of us were training out of a cramped garage in the Junction, pushing each other harder than any commercial gym ever did. We got tired of watching people waste time on machines that don't do jack for real-world strength.
So we found this old warehouse on Bloor West, ripped out everything, and built what we actually wanted - a space where you can drop weights, sweat buckets, and nobody's gonna tell you to keep it down. We're about getting stronger, faster, and building a body that actually works when you need it.
Meet The Team
Marcus Chen
Head Coach & Co-Founder
Former competitive powerlifter who's pulled 600+ and isn't shy about it. Marcus has been coaching for 12 years and honestly? He's probably gonna push you harder than you think you can go. But that's kinda the point.
Sarah Kowalski
HIIT Specialist & Co-Founder
Ex-track athlete who traded the oval for barbells. Sarah designs our HIIT programming and won't let you half-rep anything. She's got this sixth sense for when you're sandbagging a workout.
Jamal Thompson
Performance Director & Co-Founder
Spent 8 years working with pro hockey players before joining us. Jamal's all about movement quality - if your form's garbage, he'll strip the weight down till you get it right. No ego lifting on his watch.
Priya Sharma
Mobility & Recovery Coach
Don't let the yoga background fool you - Priya's mobility sessions are brutal. She joined us in 2021 after we realized half our members couldn't touch their toes. Now they can actually squat properly.
Diego Martinez
Metabolic Conditioning Coach
Former amateur boxer who brings that fight camp energy to every session. Diego's metcon workouts are legendary around here - you'll question your life choices halfway through, but you'll come back for more.
What We're About
We're not here to coddle anyone. Training's supposed to be hard - that's literally the point. But we're also not gonna throw random workouts at you and hope something sticks.
Every program we run has a purpose. Whether you're coming in for HIIT classes or working one-on-one with a coach, there's progression built in. We track your metrics, we adjust when stuff's not working, and yeah, we're gonna call you out if you're slacking.
The vibe here's pretty straightforward - show up, work hard, don't be a jerk. We've built something special with this crew, and the community that's formed? That's the real magic. You'll see.
Our Journey
Six years of sweat, iron, and growth
The Garage Days
Started with just the three of us, some bumper plates, and a squat rack in Marcus's garage. We'd train at 5am before work, programming workouts on napkins. People started asking to join, and we realized we might be onto something.
Opening Day
Found the warehouse space on Bloor West. Spent three months gutting it, pouring rubber floors, building rig systems. Opened with 47 founding members who took a chance on us. Then COVID hit two months later... yeah, that was rough.
The Pivot
Lockdown forced us to get creative. Started running outdoor sessions in High Park, online programming, equipment rentals. Our members stuck with us through the whole mess. That loyalty? We'll never forget it.
Expansion & Recovery
Reopened stronger than before. Added Priya to focus on mobility and recovery - turned out people actually need to move well, not just move heavy. Membership hit 200. Added dedicated recovery space with contrast therapy setup.
Performance Program Launch
Launched our Athletic Performance program with Jamal leading the charge. Started working with local hockey teams, rugby clubs, even some MMA fighters. Upgraded equipment to handle the increased demand.
Community Milestones
Hit 350 active members. Hosted our first charity throwdown - raised $12k for youth sports programs. Diego joined the team and brought that metcon intensity we didn't know we needed. Started seeing second-generation members (kids of OGs joining).
Tech Integration
Finally got our act together with member tracking software. Now we can actually show you your progress over time - PRs, attendance, body comp changes. Makes programming way more effective when we've got real data to work with.
Right Now
We're at 425 members and honestly still learning every day. Just added early morning classes at 5:30am for the hardcore crowd. Planning a second location for 2026, but we're taking our time to get it right. The goal's never changed - build the best training facility in Toronto, period.
Wanna Be Part Of This?
We're always looking for people who are serious about getting better. Come check out a class, meet the crew, see if this is your kind of place.
Get Started Today