In 1990, the sport of rock climbing was in its infancy. Now there are dozens of indoor climbing facilities across Southern Ontario and they have the owners of Joe Rockhead’s, Bob, Brian, and Sharon Bergman, to thank. They opened the indoor climbing gym – the first of its kind in Canada – in June of 1990 and it has played a role in the sport’s growth in the country ever since. “One of the interesting things Bob and Sharon did,” says the company’s head route setter, Ayo Sopeju, “was even though they weren’t making a ton of money they kept it going and grew it before the market suggested it was going to be a sustainable idea.”
Over the years, Joe Rockhead’s has continually adjusted to the growing interest in rock climbing. Rock climbing is now an Olympic sport and Joe Rockhead’s is active in hosting top level competitions. “We’re trying to make sure that everything that happens in the gym is interesting and changes,” says Ayo. “But also there’s a familiarity with the building and some of the things like the community and its values that have stayed the same.”
