● DISCOVER OUR TEAM
Meet the Passionate Experts Dedicated to Your Total Well-Being
Our fitness team will meet and exceed our members' expectations through inspiration, education, and motivation. We facilitate a healthy and productive lifestyle for our members by emphasizing a wide variety of appropriate fitness programs and engaging educational opportunities.
KAREN FURNEAUX
Performance & Wellness Coach, SGT Coach
Karen brings a unique blend of elite athletic achievement, academic expertise, and real-world coaching experience to her role at PWFC. As a three-time Olympian, certified Competitive Development Coach and Personal Trainer, she has spent her career helping individuals perform at their best, both physically and mentally.
Karen holds a Master of Science in Kinesiology from Dalhousie University, with a specialization in Sport Psychology. Her educational background provides a deep understanding of exercise physiology, movement mechanics, motivation, and the mindset required to achieve lasting success. She combines this knowledge with practical coaching strategies to help clients improve their health, well-being, confidence, and performance. Beyond coaching, Karen is an entrepreneur, author, and professional speaker who has inspired thousands of youth, athletes, and corporate professionals through presentations focused on resilience, goal achievement, and personal growth.
Karen's coaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that performance extends far beyond competition:
"True performance is about showing up as your best self every day. Whether your goal is to improve your health, increase your energy, overcome challenges, or pursue something meaningful, success comes from developing both physical and mental strength."
Having experienced the highs of Olympic competition as well as the challenges of burnout and recovery, Karen understands firsthand the powerful role movement plays in mental health, overall well-being, and personal performance. She is dedicated to helping others unlock their potential and achieve goals that matter most to them.
GREG SIMMONS
General Manager, Personal Trainer, SGT Coach
Over the past 30 years, Greg has developed extensive knowledge of effective business and fitness facility management. His approach is deeply rooted in his desire to understand his clients' needs and his passion for delivering exceptional customer experiences.
Since 2003, Greg has been General Manager of PWFC, working as a Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor and, of course, Manager. He has been a Certified Personal Trainer for 25 years and is also a Certified Performance Specialist with EXOS.
Before Purdy’s Wharf, Greg worked as a Personal Trainer and managed fitness facilities in Ontario. He is the author of 2 books, numerous fitness articles and blogs, has served as a Fitness Expert for a National Television network, and has provided continuing education for fitness professionals both internationally and regionally. He also provides mentoring and coaching services to fitness businesses and individuals.
His training philosophy is focused on maximizing performance:
“Personal performance is about achieving what is important to you; why you train should determine how you train. Each person who comes to our facility is different, so the training has to be different. The goal that matters to you is what matters to us.”
In his spare time, you can find Greg outdoors, X-country skiing, hiking, mountain biking, or kayaking.
Valarie Tonkin
Pilates & Yoga Instructor, Personal Training
Valarie entered the health and wellness sphere in 2009 when she became a nutrition specialist. From there, her love of fitness led her to become a personal trainer as well as discovering her passion for yoga and Pilates.
Before returning home to Halifax, Val has been counselling and training clients online, in their homes, at gyms and corporations in Ontario for over 10 years! She really enjoys teaching people one-on-one and sharing her enthusiasm for all things wellness!
When not at the gym, she enjoys hiking and canoeing, geeking out over nutrition books and cooking with her husband.
Her favourite words of fitness wisdom: "Take care of your body as if it were your most prized possession."
Annie Zornicki
Yoga Instructor
Teaching yoga since 2002, Annie has more than 20 years of teaching and practice experience.
She received her first 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher certification through Freehold Yoga Centre in the Sivananda lineage. In 2006, she completed certification in the Ashtanga lineage through Halifax Ashtanga Centre in Canada. In 2016, she completed her 500-hour RYT post-lineage with Tula Yoga in Matawan, NJ.
Certified in classical Pilates through PowerHouse Pilates since 2004, she studied Yogilates with Johnathan Urla. Annie is a registered YACEP teacher who has served as faculty for RYT.
Annie studied and trained with some of the world’s most noted yoga and Pilates teachers, including Brooke Siler, Dharma Mittra, Maty Ezraty, Rodney Yee, and many more. She was part of the crew at the Yoga Journal Live conference in NYC in both 2017 and 2018.
Annie is passionate about the power of yoga to promote change and incorporates the foundations of ancient practice into her classes.
● WHAT WE STAND FOR
Our Values
Two sets of values govern everything at PWFC: the core values that define our character, and the service values that define how we show up for our members every day.
CORE VALUES
01
Integrity
We do what we say. We say what we mean. Our members and partners can count on us to act with honesty, consistency, and transparency — whether they're watching or not.
02
Professionalism
Every interaction, every session, every space reflects the standard we hold ourselves to. We take our craft seriously because our members' health and experience deserve nothing less.
03
Exceed Expectations
Good enough isn't good enough. We set a high bar and then find ways to go beyond it — in our programming, our facilities, our service, and our relationships with the people we serve.
SERVICE VALUES: How We Show Up Every Day
Responsive
We listen, we act, and we follow through. Questions and concerns don't sit unanswered: our members always know they've been heard.
Reliable
Consistent quality, consistent availability, consistent care. Members can count on us to be here: in person, in service, and in commitment.
Friendly
A welcoming, supportive environment where everyone, from first-timers to seasoned athletes, feels at home from the moment they walk in.
Professional
Our team brings expertise, preparation, and respect to every interaction. You'll always receive the professional treatment that you deserve.
your first session
For Free
Connect with us to arrange a personalized tour and Fitness Consultation. Discover how PWFC is the right fit for you. No prior experience needed.
