Testimonials

In the fall of 2016 the Judo Canada/Judo Alberta Regional Training Center began its formal relationship with the LCI Fitness program in efforts to support developing judo athletes from Judo Canada/Judo Alberta. Since this time we have had athletes from Alberta, BC, Nova Scotia and Brazil attend LCI to be part of the LCI fitness program and work with Cory Gillespie.

 I believe that Cory Gillespie provides the expertise in strength and conditioning training for a judo athlete to excel in our sport. Cory’s detailed approach to teaching has made a huge impact in each athlete’s performance on the mats. I have witness athletes become great technical lifters in the gym with their strength transferring to their training on the judo mats. Through the program Cory gives the athletes many of the tools needed to be successful in sport and life; an understanding of teamwork, dedication, goal setting, emotional control, focus, toughness, courage, anxiety control and concentration.

The LCI Fitness program is one of the key elements that we use to bring athletes from across Canada to Lethbridge to train. The training at the LCI Fitness also allows our athletes to transfer smoothly to the national team in Montreal because they have already been exposed to a high level of lifting technique. I believe that the LCI Fitness program provides our athlete a competitive advantage in athlete long term development because of the daily professionalism shown by Cory Gillespie.

Ewan Beaton

Judo Alberta High Performance Coach

Judo Canada RTC Coach

2004 Olympic Judo Coach
1992 / 1996 Olympian

I wasn’t officially a student in the Fitness and Performance program; nevertheless, Cory Gillespie welcomed me into the community and helped me transform from an unfocused athlete to the well-rounded lifter I am today. With every visit to the fitness center, Mr. Gillespie made the time to break

down movements with me and share his expertise on any given topic. You can trust that with anything you ask, Mr. Gillespie won’t just give you an answer, but an understanding. I owe much of my fitness knowledge to his passionate teachings, and he also lent me books and resources to help me learn the fundamentals of lifting. I confidently competed in my first powerlifting meet, with little experience and preparation time, thanks to his coaching and training program. His continued mentorship over three years is a privilege that I will forever be grateful for. 

 

Mr. Gillespie’s dedication to the Fitness and Performance program puts it head and shoulders above your average weightlifting class. Over his 15+ years of running F&P, he has created a high caliber opportunity for students to not only learn lifting movements but hone their knowledge in nutrition, physiology, and sports psychology. The lifting programs he creates have hand-selected exercises and progressions that prepare students for all avenues of training. He ensures the fitness center is decked out with the best equipment available, offering students early experience with a high-quality facility. On top of that, his passion for all things fitness spreads in contagion to anyone who comes through the program. Every class I joined had students motivated to push past their comforts and achieve new goals. The inclusive and empowering F&P program has all kinds of students looking to join, and for good reason. I am confident that anybody willing to learn can, and will, flourish under Cory Gillespie’s guidance. 

The Anaelle Ravelojaona

100% Raw Powerlifting 57 kg 2022 U16 Champion

I have had the privilege of traveling North America and seeing some of the best coaches and facilities at work.  To be classified as the best I believe that you must demonstrate a few traits. The uncompromising pursuit of excellence; to constantly improve and innovate, even when that means going against the status quo and an ability to pass on your passion to the people around you.

I had the opportunity see these traits in practice when I volunteered to help Coach Cory Gillespie and LCI Fitness Program this past winter. Cory has created an amazing opportunity at LCI for kids to learn and pursue training as a discipline.

I started The Athlete Project years ago to give kids a platform that I never had. To help them prepare for the levels of athletics they aspire to play at. To help them see the process of achievement and learn the craft of work ethic. I am so excited that kids at LCI get to experience something like this under a coach as passionate as Cory. I am blessed to worked alongside a person like Cory in an industry with a very low barrier to entry. The market is flooded with gimmicks and uneducated people making uneducated claims; all in search of making a dollar off of your dreams and desires. Often unheard are the best coaches in the industry. I am very excited for the future of sport performance in Lethbridge with people like this leading the way.

Travis Steinke *NSCA-CSCS

The Athlete Project – Fuel Lifestyle and Performance

"My experience with the LCI Fitness Centre and coaching by Cory Gillespie are the main reasons why I have the opportunity to participate in post-secondary athletics. The four years that I spent in the program helped me acquire the athleticism and life lessons that have helped me to excel moving forward. The facility and equipment available to students is first class, rivaling the selection and quality of many University and commercial gyms. 

The best part of LCI Fitness is the coaching and knowledge that Cory possesses and the utilization of it to assist  athletes reaching for their potential. The programming and movement analysis that he provided over my time in LCI Fitness has helped me establish a competitive edge over other athletes. Through the programs I followed in high school I was able to develop strength and athleticism that would not have been possible otherwise."

JR Wikkerink

University of Victoria Varsity Rowing

Throughout my time at LCI Mr. Gillespie played a big role in my athletic development, and introduction into the world of training. During my time in his Fitness and Performance classes, I learned a great deal about movement, training, and nutrition. However, more importantly I learned about community, and family.

To start, if you ever have the chance to be coached/taught by Mr. Gillespie take it! Whether you are an athlete trying to improve your physical capabilities for next season, a student just trying to get credits to pass, or a person who is completely new to the concept of weight training....work with Mr. Gillespie. I say this because he has knowledge well beyond his years when it comes to strength, and conditioning, and he is regarded as one of the key trainers in the Lethbridge fitness community.

 Speaking from personal experience, I would not be competing in post secondary sport, and be as involved in the fitness community in Lethbridge if it were not for Mr. Gillespie. Prior to taking Fitness and Performance in my grade 11 year, I was pretty much just an energetic high-school athlete that had a dream to play volleyball at the next level. All I knew about weight training was the fact it helps with strength, and over all health and wellness. However, over the course of my next two years at LCI, Mr. Gillespie sparked an interest in the world of strength and conditioning within me. Through his meticulous programming, and careful coaching, he slowly nurtured my spark into a fire. The fitness center became a second family to me. I spent at least 4 hours there every week. It gave me a chance to meet like-minded individuals, and older athletes that I modeled myself after. The community of the fitness center embraced me like one of its own from day one, and I am sure it will do the same for you when you walk through the doors.

Nevertheless, I truly have to thank Mr. Gillespie for all the time he spent analyzing my movement so I could gain that small extra edge. Now, the fundamental skills I learned in Fitness and Performance class help me in my day-to-day training, my internship at CrossFit Fuel Lifestyle & Performance, and keeping my body in proper shape to deal with the demands of ACAC Volleyball.

Nate Heyburn

Lethbridge College Kodiaks Men's Volleyball

My name is Anthony Henry and I was an RTC judo billet that attended LCI from September 2016 - June 2019. Throughout these three years I had the honor of learning to lift under the

guidance of Cory Gillespie. Through his direction I developed a weight training foundation which made a drastic difference in my strength and overall judo performance. In addition,

following my graduation I was able to confidently transition to the National Training Center in Montreal, Quebec where I was expected to have proper lifting fundamentals. Although I have

since changed my direction to furthering my education, thanks to Cory I have developed a passion for lifting that will follow me for the rest of my life. To this day without hesitation Cory

takes the time out of his busy schedule to give me advice and help me progress as a lifter. I highly recommend the Fitness and Performance Program to any student with a drive and willingness to work hard. Cory’s dedication towards this program and his students is unmatched and I am grateful to have Cory as a mentor as well as a role-model.

Anthony Henry

Judo Canada National Training Centre Athlete

“The LCI Strength & Conditioning program (run by Mr. Cory Gillespie) is what has launched me into my love of fitness from both an athlete’s and coach’s perspective. The program opened me to a realm that I believe is very important for development of both athletes and everyday individuals. Athletes and individuals that understand the benefits from training will result in individuals being more successful in their sports and careers. Mr. Gillespie’s programming and coaching taught me self-discipline, perseverance, and how to train appropriately. With a hands on approach, and positive personality Mr. Gillespie has inspired me to be better, and now make a career of my own in Strength & Conditioning.”


Liam Hyland
Retired St Francis Xavier University FootballActive Olympic Weightlifting Competitor
St. FX Strength & Conditioning Intern

I spent a lot of time under Mr. Gillespie’s guidance and training through the Fitness and Performance class. The LCI Fitness facility is a breeding ground for young athletes to develop and grow under his qualified guidance. Mr. Gillespie has provided quality equipment and a positive atmosphere for the gym. The fundamentals and teaching styles he uses are the building blocks that I continue to use today in my training. His programs are easy to follow and use a ton of functional movements.  If a person takes the Fitness and Performance program from start to finish, they will be able to evaluate movement and safely teach peers hot to pursue fitness on their own. The teaching is hands on and focuses on refining the basics and building advanced level skills. Mr. Gillespie’s ability to prioritize an individual in a large group setting, allows for fast learning and personal achievements. He knows how to utilize verbal cues and videos to communicate performance deficiencies and form breakdowns to correct and achieve a movement that is performed with a high level of proficiency.

Alongside Mr. Gillespie’s ability to teach, is his quality to mentor. He wants to see you prosper and grow. For those who take it seriously, he has a wealth of knowledge and experience to pour out into you. He is never too busy to show you something or encourage you. Using his teachings, I went from barely squatting 135 to smoking 460. Do the programs as written and trust the course! It’s more than a class you’ll take in high school, but rather something you can continue to use through life.

Felix Rashleigh

 Canadian Drug Free Powerlifting 
Teen 220 class National Record holder in squat and deadlift

After spending only a couple weeks in Mr. Gillespie’s class I was hooked. His class changed my life. I did not think of myself as an athlete before I took the class but now I define myself as a high performance athlete.  I did not think that nutrition was valuable but now my whole worldview has changed and so has my family’s entire diet.  I did not know what I wanted to do when I graduated but now I am working in a career I love, as a result of his inspiration.  I am healthier, happier, fitter, and way more motivated as a result of the time I spent in his class.  This class was the most influential course I took in high school and Mr Gillespie was the most inspirational teacher I had. 

Mr. Gillespie has an immense knowledge of the physiology of the body but he also made it fascinating to learn.  His well thought out classes were full of useful knowledge that helped me grasp what the human body was capable of.  Mr. Gillespie’s knowledge of nutrition was also amazing!  He analyzes every student’s diet and has a personal one-on-one conversation with each student about how their diet could be improved with some simple progressive changes. He would never shame you for eating a couple cookies or drinking a pop - he only used positive motivation to encourage me to make healthier decisions. He also taught us what CrossFit is and he explained the importance of functional fitness. The training was challenging but it was designed to improve our physical capabilities in every way. Regardless of what sport you do, or even if you don’t think you are an athlete, this training is bound to improve your skills.

For me, I gained a love for the human body and I decided to take a different approach to life.   I applied to a paramedic program and after 6 months of intense schooling I passed my final exam with 100%.  I have been accepted in to college to become an advance care paramedic. The dedication and concept of continual progression that Mr Gillespie had drilled into my head leaked into my academics - I had finally found something I loved and I tried my absolute hardest to be successful.  I credit Mr. Gillespie and the classes he taught me for that.  I highly recommend that you take this class and get as hooked as I did!   

Caden Seaforth

Class of 2018

I started weight lifting in the Fitness and Performance program with Mr. Gillespie in grade 11. My goal was to develop the proper lifting techniques and start building a foundation that would benefit me throughout my athletic career. This has lead me to become physically stronger in Judo.  Mr. Gillespie was great in customizing my weight program that I still follow to this day. He has been an essential part of my progress as an athlete.

  Annabelle Darlow

  Judo Canada National Training Centre Athlete

I took all levels of Fitness and Performance and Physical Education classes from Grade 10 to Grade 12, graduating in 2017. The work that is done in the LCI Fitness Centre community is built, developed and continually inspired by the programming and teachings of Cory Gillespie. Having turned a medium-sized side room of the school into an accessible environment that is the best gym I have had the opportunity to attend in Western Canada. Once you walk into this space you are continually encouraged not to only become a better athlete, a healthier person or an effective student; you will become a better person!  I could ramble on about Mr. Gillespie's empowerment he gives students, his insightful and helpful nature or that he inspired me to follow a career in exercise science. However, the perfect summation of Gillespie is the first line he said to me and an entire class when we entered the fitness Centre while teaching us how to stand with a barbell. "Don't look at the ground, only old people and losers look at the ground. Since, none of you are looking at the ground to make sure you're not gonna fall over, I know you are not old. And I know none of you are losers because you were brave enough to come in here and wanted to be better."

Dan O'Connor

Clansmen Rugby Football Club

U19 Prairie WolfPack Rugby

Throughout my 4 years at LCI I had the privilege to be a part of the Fitness and Performance Program at Lethbridge Collegiate Institute that is taught/coached by Mr. Gillespie.  I also had the opportunity to work alongside Mr. Gillespie as a coach/trainer in the Advanced Fitness and Performance Coaching course.  During my time in all courses within the Fitness and Performance program I learned so much and loved every minute of it. The program and Mr. Gillespie were such a huge part of getting to where I am now.  I feel fortunate that I was afforded the opportunity to be a part of the program from both the perspective of an athlete and a coach.

I started the program as High School athlete with no experience in training, weightlifting and very little experience.  Mr. Gillespie slowly worked with me on perfecting my technique and refining movement patterns.  I never thought I would know how to Olympic lift but because of him I do, and I continually work to refine the techniques he has taught me. Without the knowledge I gained from this program I would have been behind in the training portion of being a post-secondary student athlete.

Throughout my time in the program, I had my fair share of sport-related injuries, that prevented me from always being able to apply what I had learned and sometimes halting my progress. Mr. Gillespie liked to say that grade 10 was the year I was “broken” because I had so many small injuries that it was hard for me to fully do the workouts and I sent most of my time in rehab-based exercise.  Throughout this time, Mr. Gillespie was always there to push me along no matter what my limitations were.  He was constantly encouraging and motivating me to do my best. He helped me stay on top of my rehab exercises to better my injures and get back to the sport I love. Because of my experience pushing through injuries and going through extensive amounts of rehab I started to develop an interest in the rehabilitation side of training. Mr. Gillespie helped me find the career path I am now pursuing; I have begun my studies to become a Physiotherapist and could not be happier

Lastly, I wanted to thank Mr. Gillespie for his endless encouragement and never giving up on me when it came to fixing my movements and my broken body.  Everything I learned from being in the program has done nothing but benefit me as an athlete and person in general. If you can be a part of this program and be coached my Mr. Gillespie, do not hesitate!  I promise it is worth it!

Fiona Hyland
Stephens College Women’s Volleyball