About
Performance Institute
Our team of fitness and nutrition professionals are invested in your health. We make every decision with our members’ well-being in mind. Achieve your goals with us!
The Team
Steve and Heather Ramsbottom
Owners
In 1999, while completing his Human Kinetics Practicum at the University of British Columbia, Steve found himself at the training facility that would later become the home of Performance Institute. Recognizing his passion and expertise, the owners at the time offered Steve, then just 24 years old, the opportunity to become a partner in the facility. Steve eagerly accepted, marking the beginning of an exciting journey. The following year, Heather, armed with her degree from Queen’s University, moved to British Columbia. She enrolled in an Exercise Science certification program that included a practicum, and coincidentally, she was placed at the same facility where Steve was now a co-owner. Their initial professional admiration quickly grew into a romantic connection. At that point, they weren’t ready to dive into both a full-time working relationship and a budding romance. Heather pursued other opportunities, working in corporate fitness and teaching. Meanwhile, Steve continued to grow the business. Five years later, with some partners moving on to other careers, Steve became the sole owner of Performance Institute and realized he needed help. This time, Steve and Heather decided to take the leap and work together. Now, over 25 years later, Steve and Heather continue to lead Performance Institute, bringing their combined expertise, passion, and dedication to everything they do.
Nathan Pinnell
Coach
Nathan is a technical master when it comes to advanced movements like Olympic lifting but also relates incredibly well to Active Rehab clients struggling to manage pain and re-establish daily living activities. He knows how to challenge and progress clients of all levels and is an all-around great guy and Father of one son. Nathan is BCAK certified as well as certified in Soft Tissue Release.
Francois Begin
Coach
Francois has 15+ years in the Fitness industry, excellent at working with older clients as well as those dealing with or recovering from injury. Francois has a Masters in Kinesiology, is BCAK certified and certified in Soft Tissue Release. Francois has many loyal clients who have trained with him for over 10 years. Francois has two daughters and a personal background in hockey.
AJ Migneault
Coach
AJ always brings energy to any room he enters and kids love working with him, but so do his many Active Rehab Clients and athletes. AJ comes to us from Saskatchewan and is gifted at both teaching and progressing clients appropriately as well as making everyone feel like they are a super-star. AJ loves the outdoors, and can be found in Whistler on his days off and is BCAK certified, is a Clinical Exercise Physiologist and is certified in Soft Tissue Release.
Matt Kerr
Coach
Matt is an intuitive wizard when it comes to the body and understands how to “release” or teach clients how to self-active release tight muscles to minimize pain and maximize performance. He works well with clients of all backgrounds and is a high-level golfer. Matt is certified in Soft Tissue release.
Owen Friz
Coach
Though Owen is the youngest member of our staff, he has been with us more than 10 years, first as a client athlete training for Hockey, and now is one of our trainers and is currently in his third year in Kinesiology. If you are lucky, Owen may share with you his own personal challenges and successes in gaining confidence in his body and shedding fat in a healthy, sustainable way. He has a very solid skill set in teaching clients, and is an avid learner and his positive energy and ever-present smile always genuinely makes clients feel better if they’re having a tough day.
Riley Craig
Coach
We affectionately call Riley “the Prof” since in addition to training at Performance Institute, Riley is an instructor at a local college. He has a Masters of Science in Kinesiology with a focus in Occupational Biomechanics. While he already has many degrees and certifications under his belt, Riley is always striving to learn more to improve his training. He has a natural gift in relating to all types of clients and is just a nice guy to have around.
Ishan Dixit
Coach
Ishan, a graduate of UBC with a degree in Kinesiology, currently balances his time between training with us and serving as a Teaching Assistant in Anatomy at UBC. With a background in rugby, Ishan combines his athletic expertise with a thoughtful and compassionate approach to training. His intelligence and dedication make him an invaluable member of our team.
Steve Ramsbottom
Coach/Owner
Even after over 25 years in the industry, Steve’s passion for training his clients remains as strong as ever. His clients feel the same, with some having worked with him for more than two decades. Steve’s extensive knowledge shines through in his ability to seamlessly integrate activations and releases into his clients’ programs, ensuring they remain pain-free while performing at a high, even athletic, level-regardless of their age. He excels at balancing essential “maintenance” work with advanced strength and power training, keeping his clients at their peak. Beyond his professional achievements, Steve is a devoted father to two children, whom he shares with his business and life partner, Heather. Steve is BCAK and Soft Tissue Release certified, a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and the author of “Wheelchair Training.”
Heather Ramsbottom
Coach/Owner
Heather is a dedicated fitness professional with over 25 years of experience in the field she loves. Known for her meticulous attention to form, she ensures her clients, whether elite athletes or beginners, execute movements with precision. Heather is particularly passionate about understanding how a woman’s cycle influences performance and addressing the unique challenges faced by women over 40. As a Precision Nutrition Certified Coach and BCAK certified professional, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her work. While she is not currently accepting new personal training clients outside of the semi-private setting, Heather plays a crucial role in educating our predominantly male training staff, ensuring they are well-versed in the unique training needs of women. Heather is also a busy mom to two active kids aged 9 and 12.
Andrew Macnab
Head of Admin
After earning his kinesiology diploma at Langara, Andrew joined Performance Institute’s admin team in 2022. With a diverse background that includes coaching basketball and roles in both academic and public libraries, Andrew brings a wealth of administrative experience along with a passion for health and fitness to his role at PI. Originally from Ontario, he now resides in Port Moody with his wife and their two cats, Poppy and Nellie.
Naseeb Shokar
Admin/Coach
Naseeb is a soon to be fourth-year Kinesiology student at Simon Fraser University with a diverse athletic background and a strong passion for strength training. If she’s not playing soccer or coaching volleyball, you can find her hiking with her dog, skiing, and even road-tripping – including a journey across Canada and the USA for two months. With her passion for movement and adventure, she’s excited to soon help others reach their fitness goals!
Elvis Wong
Coach
Elvis is a valued member of our coaching staff whose care, compassion, and impressive range of skills make a huge impact on our clients. Fluent in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese, he connects effortlessly with people of all ages and backgrounds.
A former varsity sprinter with a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science & Health Education from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Elvis brings both athletic experience and technical expertise to every session. Whether working with athletes or older adults, he blends empathy with precision coaching to help clients move and feel their best.
Emily Makihara
Admin
Emily keeps us on track with her amazing organizational skills – even in just a few hours each week! She splits her time between her role with us, her position as Head of Administration at a nearby physiotherapy clinic, and her commitments as both a high-level netball athlete and a member of the BC Netball organizational committee. Emily’s ability to balance it all (and still keep everything running smoothly!) is nothing short of impressive.
Fardeen Alam
Admin
Fardeen is currently completing his Kinesiology degree and assists our admin team while helping with social media and newsletters. He has a sharp technical mind and a genuine interest in pursuing a career in occupational therapy.
Maria Baydoun
Admin
Our newest admin superstar! Maria is smart, witty, and hardworking – already a bright and valued member of our team. She has an athletic background in tennis and basketball and has also dabbled in powerlifting. Currently in her second phase of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at BCIT, Maria is excited to blend her medical training with her hands-on experience in the fitness and wellness industry.
Top-Notch Gym Equipment
At Performance Institute, we take pride in offering a well-curated selection of straightforward yet effective equipment to help our clients reach their fitness goals. Our facility is equipped with a wide range of tools, including dumbbells, kettlebells, medicine balls, bands, and various self-active release tools, ensuring that your body stays limber regardless of age or injury history. We feature eight Rogue stations complete with barbells, a GHD machine, a Tank Sled, 11 TRX stations, along with five Concept2 Rowers, Spin bikes, an Assault bike, and a variety of agility tools and plyo boxes. Our trainers excel at adapting exercises, making all of our equipment accessible and beneficial for beginners, older clients, and seasoned athletes alike.
Exceptional Features and Amenities
At Performance Institute, voted the best gym in Burnaby, we create an inclusive environment for all generations, offering individualized programs tailored to diverse goals, from high-level athletics to general fitness. Our knowledgeable trainers excel at personalizing each client's experience. What truly sets us apart is our vibrant community spirit-where everyone is motivated, supportive, and genuinely enjoys each other's company.
Take the first step.
We can’t wait to meet you
Chat with a coach at our gym to learn more about what program will fit your goals.