About Paradigm
Personalized Coaching. Max 4 Clients. Real Results.
Semi-private coaching in NDG, built for people who want a coach who actually knows their name, their goals, and their body, with the flexibility to train when life allows.
Our Story
A Third Option for Serious Training
Paradigm started with a simple frustration: most gyms leave you choosing between two very different experiences. Personal training offers individual attention, but can be expensive and difficult to fit into your schedule. Group classes offer flexibility and energy, but often lack the personalized guidance needed to make meaningful progress.
We built a third option.
Semi-private personal training combines the best of both. A maximum of four clients per coach, an individualized training program built around your goals, and the flexibility to train when it works for you.
Today, we train out of our studio at 6120 Sherbrooke Street West in NDG, Montréal: a welcoming, coaching-focused environment designed for real progress, without the noise, ego, or distractions of a typical commercial gym.
Jean Destiné and Dane Gilmore, the team behind Paradigm Fitness.
The Story Behind Paradigm
An idea that came together on the road.
Before opening Paradigm, I managed a personal training studio. Matching the right coaches with the right clients, and making everyone’s schedules work, was a constant challenge. I knew there had to be a better way.
The idea came on a road trip to Kent School, where I’d played football. I spent a night at the training facility of a close friend, former teammate, and mentor. Seeing his setup sparked something: I knew I wanted to open my own space.
Over that three-day trip, the concept came together: semi-private training, a maximum of four clients per coach (inspired by a golf foursome), and the name Paradigm Fitness. On the drive home, I listened to an audiobook about writing a business plan. Six months later, we had the keys to our first location.
I brought in my business partner, Jean “Mayor of NDG” Destiné, and together we brought the vision to life. Paradigm opened on January 8, 2018. My son was born that same month, an unforgettable start to a new chapter.
Nearly nine years later, over 1,000 members have come through our doors. What began as an idea on a road trip has become a community built around personalized coaching, flexibility, and getting stronger for the long run.
Paradigm Progress Levels
Progress Worth Recognizing
Progress isn’t just measured by the weight you lift or the number on the scale. It’s about showing up, staying consistent, and making fitness part of your lifestyle. Progress Levels recognize members for that long-term commitment.
Level 1
Grey T-Shirt
Welcome to Paradigm
Every journey starts somewhere. Your first Paradigm shirt represents the beginning of your commitment to a stronger, healthier you.
Level 2
Black T-Shirt
Consistency Earns Recognition
As you build consistency and demonstrate dedication to your training, you can earn your black Paradigm T-shirt.
Level 3
Black Hoodie
The Black Hoodie Club
Our highest level of recognition celebrates exceptional consistency, dedication, and long-term commitment to your fitness journey.
Progress Levels are awarded at the coaches’ discretion, considering attendance, consistency, and individual effort.
Our Journey
Nine Years in NDG
From eighteen founding members to a community of more than a thousand.
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2018
Where It All Began
2 coaches. 18 founding members. One vision.
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2019
Room to Grow
Expanded our facility with a second training gym.
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2022
Beyond Fitness
Welcomed an on-site physiotherapy clinic.
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2023
More Ways to Move
Introduced a dedicated yoga studio.
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2025
1,000+ Clients Served
From 18 founding members to over 1,000 people trained.
The Team
The coaches behind Paradigm
Certified, experienced, and selected for one trait above all: they actually love coaching people.
Dane Gilmore
Founder / Owner
Dane is the founder and owner of Paradigm Fitness. A former competitive hockey and football athlete, he found his way into coaching after a near-fatal accident in 2011 and months of rehabilitation.
Certified with Canfitpro (Associate Pro Trainer), Precision Nutrition, and ELDOA Level 1, Dane has worked with a wide range of clients, from high school athletes to seniors, focusing on strength, performance, pain reduction, and overall health. He has also coached over 100 clients in sustainable nutrition.
As both a coach and gym owner, Dane prides himself on creating an environment of support, encouragement, and results, helping every member of Paradigm Fitness become the strongest version of themselves.
Jean Destiné
Owner / Head Coach
With over 20 years in the fitness industry, Jean has dedicated his career to helping people of all ages build healthier, more active lifestyles. Known around the neighbourhood as the “Mayor of NDG,” he co-founded Paradigm in 2018.
Starting as a volunteer instructor after earning his FIT certification, he went on to teach a wide range of classes, train future instructors, and take on leadership roles as Coordinator of the Weight Room and Director of Health & Fitness at the NDG YMCA.
Now as a co-owner of Paradigm Fitness, Jean brings a holistic approach that emphasizes posture, breathing, and movement. His programs combine strength, balance, and flexibility to inspire and motivate clients to reach their goals, whether it’s weight loss, improved performance, or overall health.
Alex Rubin
Coach / Gym Manager
Alex is a strong believer in the connection between mind, body, and soul, especially when it comes to fitness. For her, the gym is more than a place to train; it’s a form of meditation and a tool for personal growth.
By channeling emotions into movement, she helps others discover resilience, focus, and strength that extend beyond the weight room.
Having faced her own mental health challenges, Alex understands the power of exercise in building both physical and mental well-being. She is passionate about helping clients feel empowered, energized, and confident, ensuring that every workout leaves them stronger than when they walked in.
Megan Birch
Coach
Megan has always had a passion for physical activity. Growing up, she played on several competitive teams, including her high school hockey team, and quickly discovered the value of strength training in the gym.
Through training, Megan developed a strong sense of commitment and discipline, which fueled her desire to help others realize their own potential. After overcoming multiple injuries, her perspective expanded, and she began to focus more deeply on overall health, including lifestyle, nutrition, and the psychological and physical benefits of weight training.
As a personal coach, Megan is dedicated to guiding others in discovering sustainable strategies for health and fitness, empowering them to become the best version of themselves.
Laila Bissada
Coach / Manager
Laila coaches small-group sessions and helps manage the day-to-day at Paradigm’s NDG studio.
Annie Webb
Coach
Annie is a certified personal trainer with a lifelong passion for fitness and many years of personal experience in strength training, capoeira Angola, yoga, and running. Fully bilingual in English and French, she offers a supportive, approachable training style.
This diverse background shapes her holistic approach to health, integrating body, mind, and spirit.
Outside of the gym, Annie works in science communication, helping researchers share their work with broader audiences. She also enjoys gardening, painting, drawing, and playing music.
Maggie McDonnell
Stretching Instructor
Maggie leads the stretching classes at Paradigm’s NDG studio.
Visit the Studio
6120 Sherbrooke Street West, in the heart of NDG
Steps from Vendôme metro. Book a free consultation: we’ll talk through your goals, walk you through the space, and figure out if Paradigm is the right fit. Zero pressure, zero sales pitch.