Chapter 1: A fragmented framework: challenges in Canada’s sport system

Part I — The Canadian sport system

The Canadian sport “system” is multifaceted and involves a broad range of players, funders and participants. For many Canadians, the sport system starts and ends in schools and playgrounds, but for others it extends to neighborhood arenas, playing fields, and other facilities. For a much smaller minority, it moves to sites of provincial, territorial, national or international competitions, and the potential to be recognized as medal-winning “elite” athletes and national heroes.

Many of the participants we engaged with struggled to describe or paint a picture of a cohesive Canadian sport system. Some have told us that the challenges facing sport in Canada are myriad, and that past responses to these challenges were often reactive, leading to a confusing and ineffective patchwork of organizations and sport governing bodies. Some participants bluntly told us there was no sport system in Canada.

The Canadian sport “system,” such as it is, has evolved over the decades responding to various crises, pressures and political priorities. The Ben Johnson doping scandal at the Olympic Games Seoul 1988 led to the Dubin Inquiry referenced above.^{Footnote 1} The desire to win the greatest number of medals at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Games led to the creation of Own the Podium (formerly known as Podium Canada).^{Footnote 2} Safe sport crises within Hockey Canada and Gymnastics Canada led to inquiries before Standing Committees of the House of Commons of the Canadian Parliament.^{Footnote 3} And these are just a few examples.

In many of our conversations, we were told that there is an overemphasis on high-performance and elite sport. This emphasis often comes at the expense of developing sport at the community and grassroots level and increasing physical activity among all Canadians. Many noted that high-performance sport will ultimately benefit from community growth and an increased pool of participants, but that National Sport Organizations have often paid little attention to developing and governing their sport at the community level.

The sport system as it currently exists does not always reflect the values that are important to our society such as respect, diversity, inclusion and fairness. This calls for meaningful change. Sport is a core pillar of Canadian identity, and there is a clear desire for a sport system that embodies our shared values, inspires national pride, and promotes health and well-being.