Sport for Social Development in Indigenous Communities — Sport Support Program

The Sport for Social Development in Indigenous Communities (SSDIC) component of the Sport Support Program funds eligible organizations to deliver sport for social development projects in Indigenous communities in Canada.

The SSDIC component offers a flexible program that can be tailored to address the self-identified social goals of individual Indigenous communities.

Funding is delivered through 3 streams to expand sport programming in Indigenous communities across Canada:

• Stream One: $5.3 million is available annually to the 13 Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Sport Bodies (PTASBs) and the Aboriginal Sport Circle (ASC) for the development of sport community projects
• Stream Two: $3.6 million is available annually to Indigenous governments, communities and other not-for-profit Indigenous organizations, as well as non-Indigenous not-for-profit delivery organizations in authentic partnership with an Indigenous organization(s), for projects that promote sport in Indigenous communities
• Stream Three: $2.5 million is available annually* to ensure that Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people have access to meaningful sports activities through the SSDIC component

*Note: Uniquely for fiscal year 2023-2024, $1.25 million will be made available to the 13 PTASBs, as recognized by the ASC, to continue and/or implement Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ programming. This makes a total of $3.75 million available for Stream Three for fiscal year 2023-2024.

Sport for social development

Sport for social development is defined as the use of sport for social development for the purpose of achieving targeted social goals. The SSDIC component is a response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action, which identified 4 key social development needs of Indigenous communities.

Those needs form the specific social development goals of the SSDIC component for Stream One and Stream Two:

• improved health, education, and employability
• the reduction of at-risk behaviour

Stream Three — Reconciliation and Strength for Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ People through Sport was created in response to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). Drawn from the MMIWG Calls for Justice, Stream Three has unique social development goals which focus on:

• physical and mental health
• suicide prevention
• sexual trafficking awareness and prevention
• safe and healthy relationships
• sexual positivity (2SLGBTQI+)

Stream One

This stream is reserved for PTASBs, as well as for the ASC to provide leadership and support to the PTASBs for their delivery of the initiative.

Read more about who can apply for funding under Stream One of the SSDIC component.

Stream Two

This stream is open to Indigenous governments, communities and other not-for-profit Indigenous organizations, as well as non-Indigenous not-for-profit delivery organizations in authentic partnership with an Indigenous organization(s).

Read more about who can apply for funding under Stream Two of the SSDIC component.

Stream Three

This stream is open to Indigenous governments, communities and other not-for-profit Indigenous organizations, as well as non-Indigenous not-for-profit delivery organizations in authentic partnership with an Indigenous organization(s).

Read more about who can apply for funding under Stream Three of the SSDIC component.

Call for applications

Stream One: The call for applications for 2023-2024 fiscal year is now closed.

Stream Two: The call for applications for 2023-2024 fiscal year is now closed.

Send us an email to be added to the mailing list for future opportunities.

Stream Three: The call for applications will be open from February 8, 2023, to March 22, 2023.

Interested in applying for Stream Three? Send us an email to request the Stream Three application form.

In other news

Sport Canada is undertaking a consultation process to gather valued feedback and perspectives on the SSDIC component. This consultation is currently underway and is expected to conclude by March 2023. Any resulting changes to the design and delivery of the SSDIC component for all 3 Streams will be reflected in all future calls for applications (2024-2025 and beyond).