Our Team

Our fitness team will meet and exceed the expectations of our members through inspiration, education and motivation.

We promote a healthy and productive lifestyle for our members through an emphasis on a wide variety of appropriate fitness programs and interesting educational opportunities.

MEET OUR TEAM

Our team of committed, knowledgable, and passionate fitness professionals are dedicated to our member’s health and well being. Thank you for taking the time to get to know us! We look forward to meeting you!

Valarie TonkinPersonal Trainer, Pilates, Yoga Instructor Small Group Coach

Val originally entered the health and wellness sphere in 2009 when she became a nutrition specialist in 2009. From there her love of fitness led her to becoming 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 ZornickiYoga Instructor, Small Group Coach

Teaching yoga since 2002, Annie has more than 20 years of
teaching experience and practice. She received her first
200hr Registered Yoga Teacher certification through
Freehold Yoga Center in the Sivananda lineage. In 2006 she
completed certification in the Ashtanga lineage through
Halifax Ashtanga Centre in Canada. In 2016 she completed
her 500hr 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 such Brooke Siler, Dharma
Mittra, Maty Ezraty, Rodney Yee and many more. Annie was
part of the crew at the Yoga Journal Live conference NYC in
both 2017 and 2018. She is passionate about the power of
yoga to promote change and incorporates the the foundations
of ancient practice into her classes.

GREG SIMMONSGeneral Manager. Personal Trainer, Small Group Coach

Over the past 30 years, Greg has developed an extensive knowledge of effective business and fitness facility management. His approach is deeply rooted in the desire to understand the needs of his clients and his passion to deliver exceptional customer experiences.

Since 2003 Greg has been General Manager of PWFC working as 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.

Prior to Purdy’s Wharf Greg worked as a Personal Trainer and managed fitness facilities in Ontario. He is an Author of 2 books, numerous fitness articles and blogs, served as 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 business and individuals.

His Training Philosophy is focused on Performance. “Personal Performance is about achieving what is important to you, why you train should determine how you train. Each person coming to our facility is different, thus 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.