WIMGYM honours longtime coaches

For over three decades, their name has been synonymous with gymnastics on the West Island.

Head coaches Josef and Hana Hulka retired recently after more than 30 years of helping mold WIMGYM (West Island Montreal Gymnastics Club) into the flourishing institution it is today.

The couple was honoured for their contributions during WIMGYM’s grand opening of their new centre last Friday in Dorval.

“It came as a real surprise to us,” said Josef Hulka, adding they were both deeply touched by the sendoff.

“The main gym has been named after us, and we met so many people we had trained over the years who had been invited to the party; there was generation after generation in the same room,” the Pierrefonds resident said.

“The Hulkas are very well respected in the gymnastics world. We wanted to thank them for everything they’ve done,” said Jean François Quirion, a member of the board of directors and a parent

The Hulkas’ involvement dates back to the early 1970s, when WIMGYM was originally the Silhouette Club.

“We were head coaches from the start. The club was so much smaller then. It started with 15 competitors and has evolved into the monster it is,” Hulka said.

The non-profit club fares consistently well in competition, and has sent countless girls and boys to the national level, he added with pride.

Until this spring, WIMGYM’s recreational and competitive programs had been housed in Beaconsfield Shopping Centre for over 10 years, and prior to that in area schools and other locales.

Located on the south service road, “the new facility is state-of-the-art,” said Hulka who oversaw much of the transformation of the former electronics warehouse into a fully equipped, two-tiered gymnasium.

I've always designed our gyms over the years, and have had a hand in their construction. Even though we’ve retired I suspect we’ll still be involved on some level.”

WIMGYM offers a wide variety of programs seven days a week, all led by highly trained coaches. Also offered are programs for preschoolers, ballet, and more.

“The emphasis is on fitness and fun,” said Quirion.

“There are currently 1,400 children registered with us, and programs are already under way.”

For more information call 514-683-0602 or visit www.wimgym.ca.