GoodLife Fitness investigating after Sikh member allegedly forced to leave Windsor gym over kirpan
A viral TikTok shows an employee telling a member his religious article of faith was considered a weapon. GoodLife says the interaction did not reflect company policy.
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GoodLife Fitness is investigating an incident at its Windsor location after a Sikh member alleged he was racially profiled and forced to leave the gym for carrying a kirpan, a ceremonial blade worn as an article of faith.
Gurpartap Singh Khalsa shared a TikTok video on July 15 showing the exchange with a GoodLife employee who told him the kirpan was considered a "weapon" and asked him to leave for safety reasons. In the video, Khalsa questions why he was initially allowed to enter the facility if the item was an issue; the employee responds that she did not notice it when he first arrived.
Khalsa alleged the employee suggested she feared he would use the religious symbol to "kill" somebody. He says the employee threatened to call police, though officers never arrived and he eventually left the gym.
"I was racially profiled here, and it's very, very sad," Khalsa said in a follow-up video. "GoodLife, out of all places."
In a statement, GoodLife said it is committed to a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for everyone. "The interaction shown in the video reflects a situation where our established practices were not applied as intended," the company said. GoodLife confirmed it complies with all applicable government legislation, including Canadian human rights laws. Khalsa shared an email from GoodLife indicating the company is investigating the incident.
The facts
What happened at GoodLife Fitness in Windsor?
On July 15, 2026, a Sikh member named Gurpartap Singh Khalsa was asked to leave the Windsor location after a GoodLife employee told him his kirpan, a ceremonial blade worn as an article of faith, was considered a weapon and a safety concern.
How did the incident become public?
Gurpartap Singh Khalsa shared a TikTok video on July 15, 2026 showing the exchange with the GoodLife employee, in which he questioned why he was initially allowed to enter if the kirpan was an issue.
What is GoodLife's response?
GoodLife Fitness stated it is committed to a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment and confirmed the interaction did not reflect its established practices. The company said it is investigating the incident and complies with all applicable government legislation, including Canadian human rights laws.
