Flip Factory

Hello Flip Factory Friends and Families,
I would like to wish everyone a healthy and happy 2024. I know that there are lots of questions about what is going on with our gym. These are the latest updates: Refunds are being sent out. And have been since the beginning of this incident, (July 20/23). I apologize that I cannot refund everyone immediately. Why? Despite having business interruption insurance to cover unforeseen incidents such as this, to date, Flip Factory has received $0 on this policy. Also, despite a rent abatement clause in Flip’s lease stating if the facility is rendered unusable rent will not be collected - landlord continues to collect over $15,000/month and threatens to lock facility and seize assets if Flip defaults on rent. Has legal assistance been sought? Yes. What is the current state of Flip Factory? 90% of the equipment has been disposed of because of the contamination. After 2 weeks of cleaning by a remediation company, environmental engineers still found contaminants on hard flat surfaces. Environmental engineers were not brought in until 2 ½ months after the incident and after the initial remediation. For the first 3 months after the incident, it was questioned if, there was even a problem. What is the contaminant? Small steel shards. These were compared to contaminants such as black mold or asbestos only worse due to the barbed nature. There is no industry precedence, protocol, or standards for this type of contamination in a children’s fitness center. How did steel shards get into Flip Factory? Thousands of shards were created when a roofing company drilled hundreds of self-tapping steel screws through the steel Q-deck thus showering the interior of Flip Factory with steel shards throughout. Why was this even done with children and staff in the facility? Good question. Most important, no kids or staff were injured. We (my staff and I) initiated an emergency evacuation. Thank you to First Student Bus Lines and the Calgary Zoo for their assistance. Why wasn’t the construction halted? Another good question. My opinion: profits over children. Not much different than what is happening around the world today. Were authorities contacted? Yes. Alberta Health Services and the City of Calgary currently have closure orders on the facility. Will Flip Factory cease to exist? I hope not. Is Flip Factory a large corporation with deep pockets? Definitely not, it’s a small business started by one person who is passionate about teaching kids and giving them an opportunity to shine. This person has been supported and encouraged by hundreds, if not thousands, of incredible people over the years who also understand the importance of nurturing future generations. Flip Factory is a recent iteration of movements to bring out the best in our kids. Perhaps you’ve been touched by these movements over the years??
Alberta Schools Gymnastics Association ASGA (1991 – 2001)
Okotoks Gym Club – Percy Pegler School
High River Gym Club – Joe Clark School
Springbank Gym Club – Elbow Valley Elementary School
Cochrane Gym Clubs – Glenbow & Elizabeth Barrett Schools
Drumheller Gym Club – Central School
Sundance Gym Club – Sundance Elementary School
Red Deer Lake Gym Club – Red Deer Lake Community Hall
Bragg Creek Gym Club – Old community hall then Banded Peak School
Mountain Shadows Gymnastics Club – Okotoks (1996 – 2001) and still going strong!
Fit Kids Mobile Gymnastics & Trampoline Programs (2003 – 2014)
Ramsay Community Hall
Chestermere Rec Centre
Delacour Community Hall
Special Editions Daycare
Bow Trail Daycare
UCCC Main Campus
UCCC West Campus
Ranchlands Day Care on Nose Hill Drive
Panda Ranchlands Daycare
Panda Daycare on 14th St NW
Flip Factory (2007 – present)
Chestermere Rec Centre
Lantern Community Church
Cross Hall / St. John’s Church in Inglewood
Current location in Greenview Industrial Park

I’d say the cards are stacked against our gym and movement but if you look at what has preceded Flip Factory – miracles do happen and continue to happen.

I want to fully refund everyone who is out of pocket. I would like to organize a garage sale of sorts rather than wait on insurance. There are some items that were not contaminated by the incident that Flip can function without: Cyr wheels, surplus lyras & trapezes, stainless steel items from the café, etc. I will also add personal items that have some value. If you are interested in this or you can help out in any way, please send an email to: [email protected] . I’ve pretty much exhausted conventional approaches to this situation. Despite cartwheeling up a very steep hill, I want to keep this movement going. It feeds my soul and, in turn, I think it feeds a lot of other souls too.

Let’s all focus on 2024 being a great year!
Darlene Traviss :)

To our Flip Factory family and friends

If you're one of the families that signed up with us for summer or fall programming, or someone who found us when searching for a fun activity for your child, and

You're wondering what's happening with Flip... let us tell you.

In June, an unfortunate event with the roof of our building resulted with small, sharp metal shards covering our floors and all the equipment. A large portion of our equipment has been removed from the facility, some of which had to be immediately disposed of.

I truly apologize for the lack of communication regarding the Flip Factory issues and intended next steps. For the last few months, we've been working our way through the complex and onerous task of assessing damage, loss and liability, and working with restoration and insurance companies to get ourselves up and running again. We went silent over this time -- hoping that resolution was just around the corner and we'd share good news. But there's still so much to untangle. The truth is, I am still very much in the thick of working my way through the legal liabilities and insurance claims. The process moves very slowly, and I’ve been told that resolution may still be months out.

I cannot tell you how heartbreaking this situation has been for all of us. I feel greatly responsible to my client-families and my staff who have experienced such loss. On the cost recovery documents submitted to the insurance company, paying the remaining Flip staff and reimbursing families is at the top of the list. While I feel hopeful these costs will be approved, I have not yet been advised.

Thank you for your patience as we go through the process. We are doing everything we can to resolve this as quickly as possible - for the community we’ve built, the kids we help grow, and the business I love so much. Our clients are always at the forefront of our minds.

To those who’ve been aware of the situation, thank you for the support you’ve given.

Most sincerely,

Darlene Traviss
Owner

Restoration process of Flip Factory 🔨