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Canadian Sport 101

Understanding the Canadian sport landscape is critical for administrators, board members, volunteers, and sport enthusiasts. Our resources offer key concepts and provide insight into the foundations and structures of sport in Canada.

Defining sport in Canada

Sport involves casual or organized participation in activities requiring physical exertion with an emphasis on social participation and competition. Participation in sport typically involves testing your skills and abilities against yourself or others, either as an individual or as part of a team. It might also involve working as a team to achieve a common goal or objective. It can be done according to rules, for spiritual reasons, enjoyment, or as a job. This definition of sport is similar to that in Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand.

Physical activity refers to movement of the body that is generated by our muscles and uses the energy stored inside our body.

Recreation is the experience that results from freely chosen participation in physical, social, intellectual, creative and spiritual pursuits that enhance individual and community well-being. Recreational activities can take place in physical activity, sport, arts, culture and heritage.

setting the context for canadian sport

The sport landscape in Canada operates at the national, provincial/territorial, and community levels. While each organization has a unique mandate and operations, all sport organizations in Canada are guided by the Canadian Sport Policy, which promotes sport participation for all in Canada.

Canadian Sport Landscape
Quick Facts

Sport in Canada is funded through a combination of government support, corporate sponsorships, participant fees, and other sources. Here’s a simplified breakdown:

Government Funding: Agencies like Sport Canada provide funding for national sports programs and athletes. The Athlete Assistance Program offers direct financial support to top athletes, while Own the Podium targets sports with high medal potential. Provincial and municipal governments also invest in local sports facilities and programs.

Corporate Sponsorship: Companies such as RBC, Bell and Tim Hortons sponsor athletes, teams, and major events, contributing to the financial support of high-performance sports.

Non-Profit Organizations: Foundations like KidSport, MLSE and Jumpstart offer financial aid to help children from low-income families participate in sports. Other organizations support athlete development and community programs.

Memberships and Participation Fees: At the grassroots level, sports are often funded by fees paid by participants, which cover costs for training, equipment, and facilities.

Event Revenue: Large events, like the Canada Games, generate income through ticket sales, sponsorships, and media rights. These events can also lead to funding for new sports infrastructure.

This multi-faceted system helps sustain sports at all levels, from community programs to elite international competition. Learn more.

National Level

  • Sport Canada: Manages national sport policies and funding.
  • National Sport Organizations (NSOs): Govern individual sports (e.g., Hockey Canada).
  • Multi-Sport Organizations (MSOs): Examples include:

Multi-Sport Events

High-Performance Sport

Provincial and Territorial (PT) Level

  • P/TSOs and Aboriginal PT Sport Bands: Coordinate sport at the regional level.
  • Provincial Governments: Provide funding and infrastructure.

Local/Community Level

  • Local Sport Clubs: Offer grassroots programs.
  • Municipal Governments: Manage local sports facilities.

This system supports sport from grassroots to high-performance, ensuring athlete development and international success.

The degree of structure surrounding the sport determines whether it is considered organized or unorganized sport. In Canada, organized sport structures typically include a formalized team with coaching and intentional opportunities for competition that are officiated using an approved rulebook. Unorganized sport typically lacks the formal structure of specified teams, leagues, or officiating that is based on social participation or enjoyment.

The Canada Games are a national multi-sport event held every two years, alternating between winter and summer, featuring young athletes from across Canada. They help develop young athletes, serve as a platform for talent identification, and promote national unity. Many top Canadian athletes, including Olympians, started their careers at the Canada Games, which also bring economic benefits to host communities.

Yes, Canada’s national sport resource center is called SIRC (Sport Information Resource Centre). Over the last 50 years, SIRC has been instrumental in advancing Canadian sport by acting as a key resource for sport knowledge, research, and collaboration. Initially established as a national sport library, SIRC has grown into a hub that supports the entire sport community. It provides essential information and tools to help improve athlete development, coaching, and sport policies. SIRC’s influence has shaped the sport sector by promoting best practices, research-driven decisions, and inclusivity in Canadian sport.

Indigenous peoples have made significant contributions to Canada’s sporting history, with traditional sports like lacrosse playing a central role. Indigenous athletes and leaders have worked to increase recognition and participation in sport through the establishment of organizations like the Aboriginal Sport Circle. Despite advancements, challenges such as funding and systemic barriers remain. Initiatives like the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) celebrate Indigenous athleticism and culture, fostering both cultural pride and sporting excellence. Learn more.

Para sport in Canada started after World War II to help veterans with disabilities and has since grown significantly. Organizations like the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association and Canadian Paralympic Committee have helped boost participation in events like the Paralympics. The Accessible Canada Act (2019) has also been important in promoting accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities, ensuring that they have greater opportunities to participate in sports and reach high-performance levels. Learn more.

Women and girls have significantly changed the sport landscape in Canada by driving inclusivity, expanding participation, and achieving major successes at both national and international levels. Their involvement has led to the creation of more equitable policies, programs, and opportunities for female athletes. Initiatives such as Canadian Women & Sport have helped promote leadership and participation, while role models like Canada’s women’s soccer team, which won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, continue to inspire future generations. Learn more.

The SIRC Job Board builds capacity across Canadian sport by connecting organizations with skilled professionals for leadership, staff, volunteer, coaching, and Board roles. It provides nationwide access to top talent, from community-level to national positions, and instills confidence in reaching the right candidates. SIRC’s job board offers access to a talent pool unparalleled in Canadian sport, reaching more than 1,000 sport professionals daily. Learn more about the SIRC Job Board and reaching talent in the Canadian sport sector.

The Canadian Sport Daily newsletter by SIRC is your go-to resource for staying up to date on the knowledge, news, events, and job opportunities in Canadian sport and physical activity. Subscribing to the newsletter keeps you informed on developments all week long. Subscribe to the Canadian Sport Daily now.

Notable topics in Canadian sport

The following topics are critical components of the sport in Canada. Key resources within each topic have been included for additional information.

Concussion research has advanced significantly in recent years, and Canada’s sport system has evolved with it. New research has helped inform better protocols, tools and practices for managing concussions at all levels of sport in Canada. The collaboration of key national partners has helped facilitate a successful “harmonized” approach to concussion management and prevention from coast-to-coast-to-coast.

Gender equity in sport means ensuring fair treatment and opportunities for all genders, with a specific focus on women, transgender, and non-binary athletes. Canadian sport has long demonstrated a commitment to improving gender equity in sport, with dedicated support coming from Canadian Women & Sport, who support the development of girls and women in sport at all levels and in all areas. 

Canadian sport organizations govern sport at all levels in Canada. Improving sport governance is critical to ensure that Canadian sport is safe, inclusive, fair, ethical, and sustainable. In Canada, sport governance occurs in 3 different spheres: organizational, systemic, and political. The Canadian sport system has based its governance structures around the Canadian Sport Governance Code.

Indigenous reconciliation in sport began in 2015 when the final report was released from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which included 94 calls to action. Within the report, calls to action 87 through 91 pertain to sport. In sport, Indigenous reconciliation refers to promoting the development of traditional Indigenous sports, enhancing athlete development, and ensuring welcoming environments for Indigenous peoples in sport.

Canada is recognized as a global leader in sport for persons with disability, dating back as far as 1918. Today, sport and recreation for persons with disability takes many forms including para sport, adapted sport, and mixed ability sport. At the highest level, athletes compete in the Paralympic Games with the support of the Canadian Paralympic Committee as well as the Special Olympics.

The Canadian sport system is committed to creating safe sport environments that are free from all forms of maltreatment. In February 2019, federal, provincial, and territorial governments all endorsed the Red Deer Declaration, thus committing to collaborative action to prevent harassment, abuse and discrimination in sport. This has now led to a system based on the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS).

Canadian sport is based on the principle of fair play to ensure meaningful competition. Integrity within sport includes sport that is free of doping and competition manipulation, among other best practices that promote values-based sport. In Canada, this work is lead by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport.

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