As powerlifting gains popularity across Canada and the Carleton Powerlifting Club makes its exciting comeback, our membership is rapidly increasing, reflecting a broader trend in universities nationwide. Our goal is to join other Canadian institutions in making powerlifting more accessible, recognized, and supported on campus.

We believe that Carleton’s athletic facilities should evolve to reflect the interests and needs of its students, particularly as strength sports like powerlifting gain prominence. Universities like McGill and McMaster have already made significant strides in supporting powerlifting and strength training. Historically, the Carleton Ravens have been among the strongest and most successful clubs in the country, with previous club members becoming national champions and world level contenders— it’s time we continue that legacy by providing facilities that match our ambition.

While many Carleton lifters and team athletes from a variety of sports backgrounds currently utilize existing facilities, this expansion presents a critical opportunity to upgrade the equipment essential for not just powerlifters, but all athletes on Carletons campus. 

*Please note that this expansion will only proceed if a majority of students vote "YES" in favor of the referendum on November 12&13th. Therefore, we encourage all students to vote YES*.

In the event the referendum passes, we, the undersigned, call on Carleton Athletics to:

1.Prioritize the Needs of Powerlifters and Athletes on Campus

As the university plans facility expansions and new equipment purchases, we urge that the specific needs of powerlifters and other strength sport, and team athletes be prioritized to create a well-rounded, inclusive gym environment. More specifically, we encourage the facility to consider the specific strength training needs of powerlifters, olympic weightlifters and all sports teams/athletes on campus.

2. Establish a Dedicated Powerlifting Section

   We propose the creation of a dedicated powerlifting section within the new facility. This space should be designed to accommodate the unique demands of powerlifting training and include specialized equipment.

3. Consult with the Carleton Powerlifting Club Executives

   It is essential that the fitness center expansion committee collaborates with Carleton Powerlifting to ensure that the equipment selected for the dedicated powerlifting section is of competition-grade quality. We recommend investing in:

   - Powerlifting bars

   - Combo racks

   - Calibrated kilogram plates

   - Durable deadlift platforms  

   We believe that treating powerlifting with the same level of seriousness as other sports will significantly enhance the success of strength athletes on campus. Carleton Powerlifting has valuable connections and can assist in sourcing equipment from reputable brands that may even consider sponsoring our club.

4. Support for Safe and Effective Deadlifting

   To facilitate safe and effective training, we encourage the addition of equipment designed specifically for deadlifting. This includes investing in proper deadlift platforms and plates that can withstand the rigorous demands of powerlifting.

5. Consult with Relevant Student Groups

   We request that Carleton Athletics engage with the Carleton Powerlifting Club to ensure that the equipment choices support safe and effective lifting practices, thereby enhancing the overall training experience for our athletes.

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If you’re passionate about lifting, interested in competing, or simply want to see Carleton's athletic facilities equipped to support powerlifting, please sign below to show your support for prioritizing powerlifting at Carleton. By signing, you are voicing your commitment to fostering a stronger, more inclusive athletic community at Carleton University that embraces the sport of powerlifting.