How did we get here? where are we going?

As climbers, we know that a climbing gym is more than just a place to exercise and train - it is the home of our local climbing community. Over the past decade, I have had the privilege to see first hand just how key climbing gyms are to growing and strengthening local climbing communities in towns and cities across the country. Climbing gyms foster connections, friendships, knowledge sharing, mentorship, and stoke. Climbing gyms also help to elevate the sport of climbing, helping climbing move away from its fringe and counter-culture roots, towards a space where it is embraced by adventurers from all walks of life.

In Thunder Bay, we are blessed with a wealth of rock and ice to climb - it is truly such a privilege to be able to climb such stellar formations so close to home. We have routes from 10m top ropes to 150m mega-projects, with standards being pushed regularly and new lines going up all the time. To take this frenzy of development to the next step, Thunder Bay needs a modern and inclusive climbing gym where climbers from all walks of life can come together to train, grow and develop as climbers.

This is where Rock Room comes in. As a by-climbers for-climbers gym, Rock Room will make every effort to develop an inclusive space that is embraced by the whole community. To achieve this goal, Rock Room intends to offer:

• A diverse, professional and experienced staff;

• A clean, safe and modern facility;

• Regular Women’s & Gender Diverse climbing nights;

• A clear and enforced Code of Conduct for all gym users; and

• Quality route-setting, catering to climbers of all skill levels and climbing styles.

While much has already been accomplished, there is still a long road ahead to open Rock Room. Have ideas? Want to learn more? Interested in helping make it happen? I would love to hear from you! You can get in touch by emailing mike@rockroomclimbing.ca, or through social media @RockRoomClimbing.