No supervision at kids' gym, says local mom

About a month ago, as Ariadne Decker was dropping her two daughters off at their beginner lessons at the facility, she was approached by a young girl who asked her to open her gym suit at the back. Decker says she was puzzled, but helped the girl. "She then just took off," she said of the girl, who she estimates was about four years old. "Ten minutes later, I saw her completely naked, running around."

The child was promenading around the waiting and changing room area without a stitch and without adult supervision, claims Decker, who once again approached the girl. "I went up to her and asked her what she was doing and she said she was looking for someone to put her gym suit back on," she said.

Decker says she told the secretary about the incident, but the woman brushed her off — so she then told the girl's father about it when he came to pick her up after practice.

Despite the gym's solid reputation — it's a non-profit organization that has been open for over 30 years — Decker says she's concerned about the apparent lack of instructor supervision outside the courses. She did, however, point out that the classes themselves are well monitored. "It's a massive, massive gym," she said. "It's so open to the public. You can just walk into the changing rooms."

But Gadbois' head trainer, Michel Repussard, says he's heard no complaints. "In principle, the instructor should help the child," he said.

He also says the facility recommends parents keep watch outside while their children practice in the gym proper. Parents are also supposed to stay with their kids if the child is under three-years-old. He also notes that, within the courses, the centre follows guidelines set by Quebec's gymnastic federation.

He says he's surprised to hear about the incident. "We're not closed to dialogue or discussion."

Repussard says parents should keep kids home if they're not happy with the service. "I don't think that attitude is constructive," he said of Decker. "If people have a problem they should come to see us."

Decker says she did. "I guarantee nothing changed," she said.

And her kids no longer attend the courses at the Gadbois facility.