Trista Bernier

Trista Bernier was born and raised in North Bay.  She attended Chippewa Secondary School and York University graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree, specializing in Physical Education.  She is a certified Personal Trainer, Pilates instructor, Certified C.O.R.E Indoor Cycling Instructor and a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer.

Trista was always athletic and competitive.  At an early age she began her competitive gymnastic's career with the North Bay Apollo Gymnastic's Club.  She continued with her gymastic's career into her studies at York University but unfortunately the program was cancelled.  In her yearning for a new form of athletic activity she took up varsity soccer for the following year.  She eventually turned to what would be her most successful athletic endeavor ... pole vaulting.

Trista began vaulting in high school and set several provincial records.  She was a pioneer in the event and was the first woman to clear the three metre and then the four metre barriers in Canada.  Trista trained with the North Bay Legion Track for many years but operated out of training centres in Toronto, Ottawa, Jonesboro and Australia.  She won the national championships on many occasions and set numerous records both indoors and out.  Trista's brightest hour was at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.  She set the national record at 4.15 metres and captured the bronze medal on CBC television. 

Unfortunately, Trista was unable to reach full potential as a pole vaulter because in February 1999 she suffered an achilles tendon rupture requiring surgery and six months of rehabilation.  She did comeback that summer to place 5th at the Pan Am Games.  In year 2000, her Olympic year, Trista suffered an ACL tear that would require her to compete with a brace for the entire year.  She retired from vaulting following the national championships.

Trista opened up her private training studio in North Bay in 2002.  Trista, never one to back down from a challenge rented a house and built her own studio.  Her business grew much faster than expected and she was forced to re-locate to meet the demands of her increasing client base.  In her quest for a new facility, Trista purchased a house built 85 years earlier and started into extensive renovations.  The new gym, located at 551 Main St in North Bay is one of the area's best kept secrets.

Trista not only works one on one with clients but also teaches a 6 week program in  the Physical Education Department at Nipissing University.

Her next endeavour came in November 2011 when she got certified to teach indoor cycling. With the help of 3 other instructors she was able to offer 6 classes a week. The response was overwhelming with full classes every week.

Trista continues to add to her knowledge of fitness that she offers clients. In February 2013 she became a Level 1 CrossFit trainer. CrossFit is a strength and conditioning program using frequently varied, functional movements executed at high intensity.
 CrossFit is great for any competitive athlete but has become popular with anyone wanting to improve their level of fitness regardless of age, gender or current fitness level.