The Foundation of an Empire
Look, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it - Halvorn Empire wasn't born from some fancy business plan or corporate vision statement. It started in 2018 when I got tired of seeing people waste their potential in cookie-cutter gyms that treated 'em like membership numbers instead of athletes.
After spending nearly a decade coaching everyone from weekend warriors to national-level competitors, I realized something pretty crucial: most folks weren't lacking discipline or drive. They just needed a space that actually gave a damn about their progress. Somewhere that understood the difference between moving weight and moving it RIGHT.
So I took everything I'd learned - the good, the bad, and the straight-up ugly - and poured it into creating what Halvorn Empire is today. We're not here to coddle anyone, but we're also not gonna let you fail when we know you've got more in the tank.
Vancouver's strength community deserved better than what was out there. We built this place on the idea that elite training shouldn't be gatekept for pros only. Whether you're chasing a podium spot or just trying to feel like yourself again, you're building YOUR empire here.
Every piece of equipment, every program we've designed, every coach we've brought on board - it all serves one purpose: getting you stronger than yesterday. That's the only metric that matters in my book.
- Marcus Halvorn, Founder & Head Coach
Our Journey
2018
The Beginning
Opened our doors with 800 sq ft, 4 barbells, and a whole lot of ambition. Started with just 23 members who believed in what we were trying to build.
2019
First Competitive Season
Our athletes brought home 7 medals from provincial competitions. Expanded our coaching team and added dedicated Olympic lifting platforms.
2020
Adapting & Growing
Yeah, that year. When everything shut down, we didn't quit - we launched virtual coaching and outdoor training sessions. Our community showed up in ways that still give me goosebumps.
2021
Major Expansion
Tripled our space to 2,400 sq ft. Added proper athletic performance testing equipment and launched our nutrition programming. Membership hit 200+ athletes.
2022
National Recognition
Three of our lifters qualified for nationals. Got featured in Canadian Strength Magazine. Started hosting quarterly lifting competitions that brought athletes from across BC.
2023
Community Hub
Became the go-to training facility for Vancouver's strength athletes. Partnered with local sports teams for off-season training. Our coaches got certified in advanced biomechanics.
2024
Innovation Forward
Introduced cutting-edge performance tracking technology. Launched specialized programs for youth athletes and masters competitors. Our community crossed 350 members strong.
2025
Building Forward
Still pushing, still growing, still focused on making every single person who walks through our doors stronger than they were yesterday. The empire's just getting started.
