Concerns have emerged regarding the professional conduct and management culture at Equinox Vancouver, located on West Georgia Street. A formal demand letter has been issued by Mr. Johnny Zakharia, a Middle Eastern man and long-time fitness community member, who reports experiencing intimidation and discriminatory treatment by senior staff.
The letter, addressed to General Manager Liz Jacobs, requests a formal apology and a one-year membership as goodwill reparation. It also raises questions about Equinox’s internal oversight, particularly the decision to employ Angela Straker, a manager previously involved in a controversial incident at another fitness facility.
⚖️ Background and Broader Concerns
Several years ago, Mr. Zakharia alleges he was treated in a manner that left him humiliated and distressed. He contends that the management’s actions were inconsistent with Equinox’s stated commitment to diversity and inclusion.
A separate and earlier incident involving Ms. Straker has also resurfaced. A video publicly available on YouTube appears to show a confrontation in which a man identified as Ryan Delaney aggressively threatens a Middle Eastern man. According to Mr. Zakharia, Ms. Straker—then employed at a different fitness centre—was aware of this event yet failed to take appropriate action.
The YouTube video may be viewed below:
Mr. Zakharia maintains that the video raises legitimate questions about fairness, integrity, and professional accountability. His position is that Equinox should have exercised greater care when later hiring and promoting Ms. Straker into a management role.
🧾 Formal Demand for Action
In his demand letter dated October 14, 2025, Mr. Zakharia outlines two specific requests to Equinox Vancouver:
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A written apology acknowledging the harm and distress caused; and
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A one-year complimentary membership as a gesture of goodwill.
He further notes that if Equinox fails to respond within 14 days, he intends to escalate the matter to Equinox’s Canadian office in Toronto, Equinox’s U.S. head office in New York, and relevant regulatory and human-rights authorities in British Columbia.
📣 Why This Matters
The purpose of making this issue public is not hostility, but transparency.
Mr. Zakharia believes fitness centres—especially premium brands such as Equinox—have an ethical duty to ensure that all members are treated equally and that complaints are addressed in good faith.
Vancouver Channel supports open discussion on matters of discrimination, accountability, and professional conduct within the city’s business community.
📨 Right of Reply
Equinox management and the individuals named have been invited to provide comment or clarification. Any official response will be published in full or in excerpted form to ensure fairness and transparency.
🔗 Here is the contact info for Equinox Corporate
