About Us
Our Story
For more than 30 years the Astoria Boxing Club ran a non-profit youth program that provided a safe space and mentorship for at-risk youth in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. In the Spring of 2012, the gym’s funding was cut and the club was forced to close its doors.
Later that year, the Aprons for Gloves Boxing Association was established and organized the first annual Restaurant Rumble, a fight-night fundraiser that raised over $100,000 to open a new gym: Eastside Boxing Club. AFG and Eastside were developed by a small group of professionals and entrepreneurs who seized an opportunity to re-establish a historic boxing program for at-risk youth. The new club also offered outreach programs specifically for women, survivors of domestic violence, frontline workers, and members of the LQBTQ+ community. These programs were designed to offer free mentorship and training to individuals who may otherwise not have the resources or support to participate in recreational sports.
After only six months of operation, a devastating fire forced the club to close. Again, with help from the community and another successful Restaurant Rumble, Eastside was reborn in 2014 in the historic Chinatown neighbourhood at 238 Keefer Street, continuing on the mission to provide boxing training and mentorship opportunities for anyone that is interested in learning the sport.
Our mission is to improve lives and build community through the sport of boxing. We believe that everyone deserves access to exercise, and strive to foster a safe and inclusive gym environment while delivering high-quality boxing training.