GoodLife Founder Wins Entrepreneur of the Year Award David "Patch" Patchell-Evans, ex-officio of IHRSA's board of direstors and the founder and CEO of GoodLife Fitness, based in London, Ontario, Canada, recently received the 17th annual Entrepreneur of the year award from Canada's Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (CVCA). "The selection process focuses on individuals whose entrepreneurial spirit, drive, and success personify the qualities that all venture capital or private equity investors seek to find in their portfolio companies," said Richard Kinlough, chair of CVCA's awards committee and managing director, group head, CIT Corporate Finance, Canada. "The committee looks to select exceptional entrepreneurs who create wealth, employment, and also give back to the community." Patchell-Evans set off on an entrepreneurial path with the opening of his first club in 1979. Since then, GoodLife Fitness has become the largest chain of fitness clubs in Canada, the fifth largest in the world, the largest in the world owned by a single person, with 275 sites across Canada and 750,000-plus members; roughly one in every 45 Canadians is a GoodLife member. In 1999, Patchell-Evans created GoodLife Kids, an organization dedicated to inspiring children to become active. In 2007, he was awarded the Medal of Honor by the Canadian Medical Association for his involvement in, and support of, autism research and for establishing the Kilee Patchell-Evans Autism Research Group. Penfund, an investment firm based in Ontario, nominated Patchett-Evans for the award; GoodLife has been an investee company of Penfund since 2006. "Patch's vision and tenacity make him an outstanding entrepreneur." said John Bradlow, a partner at Penfund. "He's also a generous philanthropist who gives back to his community. I cannot think of a candidate more deserving of this award." Patella-Evans was honored at the Gala Evening at CVCA's 2010 annual Conference in Ottawa, at the end of May. Club Business International August 2010