Canadian Sport Policy 2025-2035

On this page

• Acknowledgement
• What we are trying to achieve
  • Introduction
  • Defining sport
  • A new era for sport in Canada
  • What we heard
  • What sport can be
  • The vision
  • Values in action
• Who and what is involved
  • Delivering the vision for sport in Canada: governments, organizations, people and places
  • Governments
  • Sport and partner organizations
  • Sport leaders
  • Places and spaces for sport
• Where we can have an impact
  • Contexts of sport in Canada
  • Participation
  • Performance
• How we can make it happen
  • Outcomes and objectives of the Canadian Sport Policy 2025-2035
  • Implementing the Canadian Sport Policy 2025-2035
  • Measuring success
  • A pan-Canadian approach
• Conclusion
  • A clear and compelling call for values-driven sport

Alternate format

Canadian Sport Policy 2025-2035 [PDF version - 17.1 MB]

Acknowledgement

Endorsed by Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers responsible for sport, physical activity and recreation August 9, 2025^{Footnote 1}.

The Canadian Sport Policy 2025-2035 was developed by the Sport Physical Activity Recreation Council, the Canadian Sport Policy Renewal Work Group and Canadian Sport Policy Writing Team on behalf of Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers responsible for sport, physical activity and recreation. To stay relevant and aligned, the Canadian Sport Policy (CSP) may be updated, as required, throughout the life of the Policy.

The Federal, Provincial and Territorial governments respect the strength of Indigenous Peoples to reclaim their health and wellbeing through sport. They also recognize that Indigenous Peoples have historically and continue to make positive contributions to sport and continue to shape the Canadian sport system throughout Canada.

This Policy represents a concerted effort by Federal, Provincial and Territorial governments to collaborate with all partners within the sport community, including Indigenous partners. By doing so, this Policy aims to support reconciliation efforts and helps to ensure Canada’s sport systems and institutions are safe, inclusive, accessible, and equitable for everyone. We are grateful to Monique Manatch, Knowledge Keeper, with the Algonquins of Barrier Lake who opened and closed the CSP consultation process.

A special thank you to the Sport Information Resource Centre for its meaningful management of the national consultation and engagement process and for the development of the What We Heard Reports: Findings, of government consultations, and a pan-Canadian survey to inform the Canadian Sport Policy 2025-2035.

Appreciation is also expressed to all who shared their insights and perspectives in the consultation and engagement process; and to the individuals, organizations, and communities involved in the development of sport in Canada for their passion, dedication, and expertise.

What we are trying to achieve

Introduction

The Canadian Sport Policy 2025-2035 charts the course for sport in Canada. It is the third generation of a pan-Canadian sport policy and the product of comprehensive coast-to-coast-to-coast engagement with the people and communities of Canada.

The purpose of this Policy is to guide and inspire everyone to work together to create sport environments that focus on people, reflect shared values, and enhance the health and culture of Canada and its communities.

At the heart of this Policy is the idea that everyone has the chance to participate in sport in a way that is positive, safe and personally meaningful. This means that everyone, regardless of their role in sport has access to, inclusive and welcoming environments. Sport offers opportunities for growth and enjoyment. It should be designed to meet the needs of each participant while respecting the diversity of individuals and communities.

The Policy sets the direction for the period 2025-2035 for all governments, institutions, and organizations that are committed to working together toward a shared vision for sport in Canada.

Defining sport

As a means of physical activity, recreation and/or a full-time competitive endeavour, sport offers unique goals and contexts that enable Canadians and their communities to prosper, improve their health and wellbeing and enhance social connections. Whether casual or organized, participating in sport integrates aspects of physical fitness, mental performance, skill-development, social relationships and for many, a connection to community and culture.

Around the world, sport can be and is defined differently, often based on current trends, priorities of governments, impacts of societal norms and other factors. It is also important to understand that sport can be represented in many forms, be it informal or organized, competitive or recreational. This variability means that governments may each have definitions of sport that align with their programs, priorities, supports, services and needs. These definitions will often, but not always incorporate some of the following aspects:

• Sport often has a component of skill development
• Sport tends to involve more complex physical movements
• Sport often involves an aspect of competition
• Sport can occur alone but often involves one or more persons
• Sport often involves working with a team to achieve a common goal
• Sport tends to have rules and regulations
• Sport can be a job, a pastime or a passion
• Sport can provide traditional experiences
• Sport should be FUN!

A new era for sport in Canada

The Canadian Sport Policy 2025-2035 seeks to build on past efforts and address current challenges to create a more inclusive, equitable and vibrant sport environment for all people in Canada. It will build on the two previous sport policies: 2002-2012 and 2012-2022.

The 2002 Canadian Sport Policy focused on four key tenets: enhanced participation, enhanced excellence, enhanced capacity, and enhanced interaction. A 2010 evaluation determined that three out of four goals were achieved, but the goal of enhancing participation was not. This assessment was based on a goal of having a significantly higher proportion of Canadians involved in activities at all levels and in all forms of participation.

The vision for the 2012 Canadian Sport Policy was “a dynamic and innovative culture that promotes and celebrates participation and excellence in sport.” Evaluation of the 2012 Canadian Sport Policy determined that the policy had broadly supported and enhanced sport culture in Canada, but as with the 2002 policy, participation remained an area of weakness. A 2021 evaluation identified some of the many challenges to increasing participation in sport and made recommendations for future sport policies.

While participation has been an elusive goal for the Canadian Sport Policy, its importance has only been amplified since the last policy renewal. During this time, the sport landscape has been impacted by events, social and political movements, and legislation – from Canadian to global in scale – that point to the continued importance of sport participation for everyone in Canada:

• The country has seen progress toward reconciliation and honouring the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
• Commitments to making all levels of sport barrier free, including but not limited to achieving gender equity.
• People in Canada have a heightened concern regarding safe sport practices as participants have come forward to share negative experiences at all levels in sport. Governments are working to have safe sport policies and procedures in place, including the establishment of independent complaint mechanisms to ensure a safe environment for all participants.
• The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated social inequities on a global scale, impacting participation, volunteerism, and coach and official availability in the Canadian sport landscape. Sport organizations continue to experience funding and capacity challenges that have increased administrator burden and significantly impacted sport delivery.

What we heard

Canadians from many backgrounds shared their values, motivations, and aspirations.

The Canadian Sport Policy 2025-2035 is based on feedback from over 5,000 people and more than 500 sport organizations across Canada, including the voices of women and girls, Indigenous Peoples, racialized persons, newcomers to Canada, 2SLGBTQI+ communities, persons with disabilities, older adults, and many others^{Footnote 2}.

The policy renewal process included an online survey and meetings with athletes, coaches, officials, school sport administrators, sport health professionals, Indigenous leaders, and sport leaders representing community and high performance sport to discuss the new policy. Additional discussions brought together sport leaders and government administrators in each provincial and territorial sport sector, as well as the Canadian sport system.

Canadians would like to see a grassroots-driven policy that supports and emphasizes the long-term development of athletes, coaches, and officials in sport—from the community and recreational levels through to competitive and high performance sport. With issues related to resources, facility access, and transportation limiting the delivery of sport in Canada, schools are viewed as an important setting for children and youth to develop physical literacy, be exposed to a variety of fitness and sport activities, and experience competition with existing infrastructure in their home communities.

Overall, Canadians were aligned on the following themes and direction for the Canadian Sport Policy 2025-2035:

• Future Vision: Sport is seen as vital for health and culture in Canada. The new policy should ensure safe, inclusive, and accessible sport opportunities for everyone throughout their lifespan, from childhood to older adulthood.
• Equity and Inclusion: There is a desire for sport participants and leaders to reflect the diversity of the people of Canada, and to be actively engaged when it comes to issues that affect their sport participation.
• Social Development: Sport can be used as a tool to address Reconciliation, support the settlement process for newcomers, and promote gender equity. Barriers to participation in rural areas need to be addressed.
• Shifting Values: Survey respondents valued fun, respect, fair play, and ethical behaviour more than excellence. Their views reflected a shift in priority towards personal development, social and health outcomes.
• Clear and Measurable: The new policy should be clear and easy to measure its success over the next 10 years.

What sport can be

At its best, sport can be a powerful and positive influence: a way to improve health, to connect with people, to enjoy the benefits and pleasures of physical activity and competition or push the limits of what you can be. It may lead to performances on the world’s biggest stages. Sport can make an enormous contribution to culture, identity, wellbeing and economies throughout the country. It can teach, inspire, and unite. It can fuel leadership, promote reconciliation, advance respect for human rights and cross-cultural understanding, and be a stepping stone to greater things. The mosaic of sport enriches the tapestry of Canada. It can shine a spotlight on important issues, be a catalyst for change, and reflect Canada at its best.

The vision

Working together to enable everyone to grow, excel and achieve wellbeing through sport

Working together

Everyone has a role to play in achieving the Policy’s vision for sport in Canada. Success in sport depends on many individuals working together. Sport needs participants and athletes who play, train and compete. It needs coaches, instructors, teachers, officials, parents and guardians, volunteers, trustees and administrators who create the environments for sport to happen. It is made better and safer through the work of researchers and health professionals, and it is supported by contributions from private and non-profit corporations and governments.

…To enable everyone

For everyone to experience the joy of sport and all the benefits it can bring, everyone must be able to participate. Sport must be affordable and accessible. It must be delivered to high standards. It must be inclusive and respectful of diversity. Most of all, it must be delivered with care for the needs of each participant and the communities to which they belong.

…To grow, excel and achieve wellbeing through sport

Sport must provide positive, safe experiences while offering the opportunities for individuals to maintain or improve health and social outcomes. Sport must also inspire participants to pursue excellence, whether in skill development, personal goals, or in competition, while also fostering a sense of achievement and fulfillment. By prioritizing personal improvement, teamwork, and the joy of participation, sport can change lives and Canada for the better.

Values in action

This Policy is driven by values shared by people throughout Canada.

Values represent the standard by which the Policy guides decision-making, resource allocation and collaborative action toward the Policy vision.

Together, we can transform these values into action.

• Fun: Sport is enjoyable, creating experiences that are positive and satisfying for everyone who participates.
• Inclusion and accessibility: Everyone feels welcomed, respected, and valued in sport. This means that everyone, including those living in rural or remote communities, has access to spaces, places, and programs that are free from discrimination and enable them to enjoy sport.
• Diversity: Participants and leaders in sport reflect the diverse people and communities of Canada. Sport embraces the many racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, gender and other identities, as well as a diversity of languages, including English, French and Indigenous languages. Sport is important for those living with a disability or facing socioeconomic challenges and those with other complex experiences.
• Fairness and integrity: Sport, both on and off the field of play, is conducted honestly, fairly, and with respect for the rules. Participants and leaders have equitable opportunities, demonstrate positive behaviour, and uphold the spirit of sport.
• Responsibility and accountability: Sport organizations, participants and decision-makers are responsible for creating a positive culture of sport and accountable for their actions and the decisions they make.
• Community-building: Sport brings people together, builds resilience, and contributes to culture and identity. It strengthens bonds within communities, fostering a sense of connecting and understanding while enhancing social cohesion, reinforcing cultural identity and providing economic benefits. Additionally, sport promotes sustainability by supporting the long-term health and success of communities through thoughtful, socially responsible practises.
• Healthy and safe: Sport promotes physical, emotional, social, spiritual and mental wellbeing, supporting the overall health and vitality of participants. Everyone participates in environments that are safe, and participants and leaders understand the physical, mental, and emotional harms that may occur in sport and act with intention, care, and due diligence to eliminate these harms.
• Ambition: Sport encourages the pursuit of personal and collective goals, driving participants to strive for excellence, improve health, and achieve their fullest potential. Excellence goes beyond achievement to include how sport is experienced, taught, organized, and governed.

Who and what is involved

Delivering the vision for sport in Canada: governments, organizations, people and places

Achieving the vision requires many components to work together seamlessly to deliver values-driven sport.

Sport must always be focused on the good of the participants involved. How do we enable everyone to grow, excel and achieve wellbeing through sport? It begins with people: those who want to participate, and those who support participation by working as leaders within schools, organizations and governments. Next there must be places: facilities and spaces where sport can happen.

For Canada to be a country where everyone can enjoy sport and pursue competitive goals, we must ensure that all levels of sport are encouraged and supported, now and in the future. Organizations that deliver sport in Canada should be sufficiently funded, resourced, and provided with the tools and guidance to plan for the future, foster sport environments that are positive, safe, and inclusive, and engage in continuous learning and reflection for improvement. A proactive and positive culture is needed to move sport in Canada forward for the duration of the Policy.

Sustainable progress goes beyond resources and capacity. It requires education, awareness, innovation, and modernization, and respect for the environment. It means embracing and celebrating diversity and culture in all aspects of sport. To achieve the vision, sport needs to be forward-thinking, reflect the people and communities of Canada, and demonstrate integrity in all that we do.

With this in mind, and participants at the centre of the Policy, we need to focus attention on those who can help deliver the Policy, such as governments, sport and partner organizations, sport leaders; and the places and spaces where sport occurs.

Governments

Governments recognize that sport is a public good worthy of support.

• To provide support, governments take on three main roles:
  • By setting policies and collaborating together, governments encourage sport organizations to deliver programs inspired by the values of the Canadian Sport Policy.
  • By directing funding support according to these policies, governments influence sport delivery, particularly at federal and provincial-territorial levels.
  • Governments convene sport leaders and organizations, academics and experts, public servants, and others to shape policy, manage support, and collaborate to set priorities.
• Each government acts according to its jurisdiction and in relation to the needs specific to its population and sport environment, resulting in a flexible and responsive approach to setting priorities and advancing the goals and areas for action within this Policy.

Sport and partner organizations

The design and delivery of sport programming is supported by a collaborative community of organizations and agencies.

• Sport organizations include non-profit and for-profit, public- and privately funded, incorporated and unincorporated organizations and agencies. This includes National Multisport Service Organizations (MSOs), National Sport Organizations (NSOs), Provincial and Territorial Sport Organizations (PTSOs), Provincial and Territorial Aboriginal Sport Bodies (PTASBs), and community sport, multi-sport, school-sport, and cultural-sport organizations as well as professional sport businesses and academies. It also includes the broader set of organizations that include sport, recreation and active living in their roles and mandates.
• As we expect more of sport, we expect more of sport organizations. The future of sport depends on public trust and confidence in sport organizations. The values put forward in this Policy should live in every policy, strategy, action plan, program, and every decision.
• Integrity on and off the field of play at all levels of sport, from grassroots clubs to national team programs, is essential. It builds confidence in the people and organizations who participate in and deliver sport. Enhancing governance and collaboration across MSOs, NSOs, PTSOs, PTASBs, and other organizations that deliver sport in Canada, from community clubs to professional organizations, is needed.
• Sport organizations provide opportunities for people in Canada to participate in sport. Open, transparent, democratic governance and responsible management that puts the needs of participants first is essential.
• Both non-profit and for-profit organizations delivering sport, including professional sport, must demonstrate their commitment to safety, ethical conduct, and respect for all participants.
• Sport is vulnerable to sustainability challenges, including adjustments to weather and environmental change. As sport grows increasingly sophisticated – technically and in terms of management, information systems, and relevant legislation and standards – innovations will need to help organizations adapt to rapidly changing environments.
• Resources are a major challenge for non-profit sport organizations, especially trained, dedicated leaders and access to spaces and places for programs. In performance sport there are additional needs for more specialized human and technical resources. In sport for people living with disabilities, there are barriers to accessing adaptive equipment and facilities. At the same time, the rising cost of sport means access to programs can be limited by ability to pay. Aspiring to safer, more ethical, and more inclusive sport means finding ways to help sport organizations overcome basic resource challenges and help more people play.

Sport leaders

Sport leaders, many of them volunteers, include coaches, instructors, officials and referees, administrators, other specialists, and athletes themselves. They work together to build sport.

There are many different people and organizations who deliver sport in Canada. For everyone to work together, education and messaging are needed. This includes coordinated efforts to build capacity and empower everyone to foster safe, welcoming, and inclusive environments.

• Canada‘s non-profit voluntary sector is among the strongest in the world, and sport and recreation is the largest group within that sector. Many of the positive social outcomes of sport, including community pride and civic participation, come from the personal contributions so many of us make as sport volunteers.
• Volunteers are required to operate at higher standards and face more challenges than ever, including abuse directed toward coaches, officials, and referees. To keep sport strong and participants safe, we need to respect and support sport volunteers. We should work to ensure professional staff are well-trained and properly compensated. Improving and expanding sport leader education and development is a key step.
• The voices of athletes must be heard and respected and athletes empowered to take greater leadership. Building diversity in participation expands the pool of participants moving into competition and high performance, and those transitioning into progressive leadership roles.
• For everyone to have opportunities in sport, everyone needs to be represented in sport. This requires intentional efforts to remove barriers at all levels of sport, and to all roles in sport.

Places and spaces for sport

All sports are practiced and played in places and spaces. For sport to fulfill its potential, we need more places to play.

• Most gyms, pools, and arenas in Canada, as well as outdoor facilities including fields, greens, diamonds, pitches, and tracks, are publicly owned, built and maintained by municipalities and regional school boards. Rural and remote areas face challenges to developing and maintaining infrastructure. Protecting the investment in sport and recreation facilities in communities across the country is critical.
• The economic benefit of sport on communities and Canada as a whole is significant. For these benefits to be realized, investments need to be made.
• Spaces used by athletes pursuing performance goals often meet higher technical standards, or are single-purpose facilities (e.g., velodromes). Such facilities are scarce, valuable, and need continued investment.
• Decisions about which groups can use spaces, and at what cost, exert a powerful influence on access to sport. Spaces need to be accessible, for persons of all abilities, affordable, and must meet the needs of participants to prevent individuals and groups from being marginalized.
• Event hosting and the creation of new sport facilities, as well as the ongoing utilization and upgrading of existing facilities, can yield significant economic returns and other benefits to the communities.
• Canada is recognized for the diversity and beauty of its natural environment. Evolving weather and environments are a significant threat to the safety and availability of outdoor sport opportunities. Research is necessary to determine and minimize the impacts on sport throughout Canada. All participants are stewards of a sustainable sport system that needs to be responsive to these changes.

Where we can have an impact

Contexts of sport in Canada

We participate in sport for many reasons and in many ways.

The aims and needs of participants create distinct contexts of sport, and over time participants move between contexts as their interests and abilities dictate. The focus of each context helps define the kinds of infrastructure and support appropriate to it, the responsibilities of organizations and leaders within it, and the way the values of sport are operationalized – for example, what safety means in youth sport vs. professional sport.

This Policy defines two contexts of sport that broadly capture the complete spectrum of sport programs and settings, from learning fundamental sport skills to competing at the highest levels of sport. These contexts are Participation and Performance.

Participation

Developing the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge, and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for life.

Participation enables all people living in Canada to develop fundamental movement and sport skills, along with positive attitudes for themselves and toward sport leaders and fellow participants. Here Canadians value sport for its many social and health benefits and participate with those benefits in mind. Trying a new sport, striving for new challenges and personal bests, playing pick-up hockey with old friends or a young family, participants learn to love sport and come to value sport participation for a lifetime – a key to an active, healthy life.

In the participation context, there are programs or settings in which participants – at any age, ability or stage of life – learn, develop, or practice sport-specific skills with an emphasis on fun, health, personal development, social interaction, and/or relaxation. Participation can be competitive, but results and winning are not the primary goal.

Development of physical literacy begins in childhood and improved throughout one’s life – but it can be developed at any age. Physical literacy and fundamental movement skills are both a foundation for active living and health for everyone, and a driver for the competitive athlete. The participation context is also vital for promoting health and wellbeing, as well as developing physical, psychological, social, emotional, and cultural skills that contribute to human development more generally.

Many children enjoy participating in sport. Making sure sport is delivered according to shared values is the best way to ensure they experience the joy of sport, become more active, and want to keep playing for a lifetime. At the same time adult participation in sport has declined even as the need to sustain physical, emotional and mental health in society has increased. Older Canadians especially want low risk recreational options and more opportunities to be outdoors. It is also well-established that the children of active parents are more likely to be active themselves, so an investment in active healthy adults is an investment in both the present and the future.

What we need to achieve the vision:

• Volunteers are the backbone of sport in Canada. Adequate training and support for teachers, instructors, coaches, officials, administrators, board members, and other leaders, who are often volunteers, are needed to promote recruitment, retention, and optimized environments for everyone in sport.
• Sport needs to be delivered by organizations as diverse as the participants themselves. These include schools, municipal recreation programs, and community sport organizations, but also faith- and cultural-based groups and clubs, social groups, and private sport facilities and clubs. Self-organized activities are also common.
• It is important to invest in leadership and access so all Canadians can have safe, healthy, and positive sport experiences appropriate to their needs.
• Evidence shows children and youth are more engaged and benefit most when they can sample a broad range of activities and sport delivered in inclusive, positive, fun, and caring environments.
• Opportunities to participate should include those who have never engaged before, so that new participants who might be older or less experienced feel welcome, safe, and supported to try something new.
• We must work together to train and support more leaders and create more opportunities, spaces, and places for sport, especially for those who experience marginalization or are seen as outside the mainstream of sport.
• Employers, families, and individuals need to make time for sport, and governments and non-governmental organizations need to clear them a space by ensuring that sport is more accessible, affordable, diverse, and equitable.
• A healthy society can only be built of healthy individuals. Investing in sport helps everyone to be healthier, stronger, and happier, today and tomorrow.

Performance

Helping participants to achieve their goals and ambitions at progressively higher levels of competition, within a values-based framework of fair, ethical sport.

The performance context includes youth and adult participants who have developed strong fundamental skills and abilities and who aim to perform at progressively higher levels of competition with an increasing emphasis on sport performance as athletes advance. Competing at the highest level of competition is referred to as high performance.

This context features an emphasis on sport performance, which may include achieving performance standards, obtaining rankings or results, or winning. The focus on performance progressively increases as participants advance from lower to progressively higher levels of competition (for example, based on age, ability, or jurisdiction), with participants being selected to higher levels of competition based on eligibility, skill and merit. The objective of performance sport is to ensure that essential elements, including access to equipment, facilities, coaching, competition opportunities, and support services, are in place and aligned so that participants can pursue their goals in a safe and ethical manner, and excel to the extent of their abilities.

What we need to achieve the vision:

• Performance sport includes sport delivered in educational settings (secondary schools, colleges, and universities), through community sport organizations, local clubs, sport academies, and through Provincial-Territorial and National Sport Organizations. This also includes Provincial-Territorial, Regional, and National Sport Centres.
• Participants require supportive sport environments that protect their wellbeing, including categories and events that provide equal access to opportunities to participate in competitive sport fairly and safely.
• Factors such as specializing in one sport too soon or competing too often and too early can be associated with drop-out from sport. Early adolescence marks the major period of drop-out. To enable competitive excellence, we must support and protect athletes so they can stay in sport and reach their goals. We must also remember that keeping sport fun helps athletes perform at their best.
• The advanced stages of the performance context, often referred to as High Performance, is the source of our sporting heroes and legends, and receives much media attention. We celebrate the passion and commitment of Canada’s athletes training and competing at home or abroad.
• High Performance Sport includes sport delivered primarily through, but not limited to, national team programs and Sport Centres.
• Athletes may also be part of professional or semi-professional sport teams and leagues. At the highest levels, athletes participate in training and competition environments supported by many inter-related organizations.
• High Performance Sport can be expensive to support and to participate in, with an increasing reliance on costly and specialized facilities and infrastructure, “state-of-the-art” equipment, professional coaching, administrative and support personnel, event hosting and extensive travel. Athletes should be supported to reduce their share of these significant costs.
• High Performance athletes are often at high risk of injury. Efforts to reduce, prevent, and manage concussions as well as other sport injuries need continued attention and support.
• Hosting sport events, including the Canada Games, Canadian Championships, and international competitions, creates important opportunities to inspire and provide competitive opportunities for athletes on home soil, create and maintain infrastructure for participation and competition, and spur social and economic development. Where appropriate, local Indigenous communities should also be engaged in bids and plans to host sport events.
• Hosting and participating in events such as the Arctic Winter Games and North American Indigenous Games should be encouraged and supported as a means of offering opportunities for cultural relevance and competitive development to Indigenous athletes.

How we can make it happen

Outcomes and objectives of the Canadian Sport Policy 2025-2035

1. Canadians are healthy. Everyone in Canada can enjoy the benefits of sport, including physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and mental wellbeing.
2. Communities are strong and resilient. Sport brings people together, builds resilience, and contributes to culture, identity and the economy.
3. Canada is an international leader. Canada is recognized for sport excellence, and for the health, happiness, and pride that sport inspires.

The core criteria used for the development of the Canadian Sport Policy 2025-2035 and its associated outcomes and objectives are:

• Focus on positive sport experiences for everyone who participates in and contributes to sport in Canada.
• The outcomes and objectives are values-driven and focused on achieving the vision of the Canadian Sport Policy 2025-2035.
• Recognize that the universal values associated with sport are operationalized in different ways according to both sport contexts – Participation and Performance.
• Capture what we heard from Canadians and clarify directions and accountabilities for action.
• Recognize that each government and each organization will determine how best to advance and evaluate progress on the areas for action, and will advance their own action plans and policies in line with individual jurisdictional mandates and priorities.

The objectives of the Canadian Sport Policy 2025-2035 as it relates to the governments, organizations, and people as they support the contexts of Participation and Performance are as follows:

Governments:

• Governments ensure organizations are resourced and held to appropriate standards to effectively perform their safety functions. (Healthy and Safe / Responsibility and Accountability)
• Governments ensure resources are provided to organizations, initiatives, and agencies focused on ensuring that sport is safe. (Fairness and Integrity)
• Governments ensure support is provided to initiatives that welcome newcomers, underrepresented, and Indigenous Peoples to sport. (Inclusion and Accessibility / Diversity)
• Governments provide resources so that all Canadians can access and participate in physical education, sport, and physical activity. (Inclusion and Accessibility / Fairness and Integrity)
• Governments support initiatives and events that deliver benefits to communities and support Calls to Action 87-91 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (2015). (Community-Building / Inclusion and Accessibility / Fairness and Integrity)
• Governments collaborate closely with counterparts in physical activity and recreation sectors to maximize the health outcomes of sport. (Healthy and Safe)

Organizations:

• Sport organizations follow standards and best practices, in compliance with applicable norms and laws, to ensure safety in sport. (Healthy and Safe / Responsibility and Accountability)
• Sport organizations maintain appropriate standards for governance and accountability, and establish and enforce measures to ensure sport is safe. (Fairness and Integrity / Responsibility and Accountability)
• Social agencies and sport organizations collaborate to support sport programs addressing the diverse needs of participants in communities. (Inclusion and Accessibility / Diversity)
• Sport programs and facilities are accessible, affordable, and appropriate for participants of different means and abilities. (Inclusion and Accessibility)
• Organizations hosting international events and Games adopt a hosting strategy in line with best practices to maximize and leverage economic, social and community benefits. (Community-Building)
• Sport organizations support unstructured and non-competitive forms of physical activity, including outdoor education and Indigenous land-based activities. (Healthy and Safe / Fun / Community-Building)

People:

• Participants, parents, and leaders know what constitutes a safe sport environment, and have the training, protocols, and resources to act. (Healthy and Safe)
• Participants are supported by quality coaches, officials, and administrators trained and resourced to deliver fair, ethical sport. (Fairness and Integrity)
• Sport leaders prioritize healthy activity in safe, positive, participant-centered settings in the design of programs, and athlete development pathways. (Healthy and Safe / Fun)
• Sport leaders have the knowledge and resources to adapt sport environments and offerings to ensure a diverse range of participants feel safe, valued and included. (Inclusion and Accessibility / Diversity)
• Sport leaders and administrators are aware of potential barriers to participation and have the training and resources to reduce or eliminate the barriers. (Inclusion and Accessibility)
• Sport leader and volunteer capacity in communities is increased to support training, program delivery, and the hosting of events. (Community-Building)
• People in Canada have opportunities and the support they need to realize their goals and ambitions through sport—whatever those goals may be. People are encouraged to pursue their ambitions in environments that encourage and foster the pursuit of excellence. (Ambition)

Implementing the Canadian Sport Policy 2025-2035

An ambitious policy depends on work, resources, and partnerships for proper implementation.

The Canadian Sport Policy 2025-2035 presents a shared vision, values and outcomes and objectives for governments to inspire sport leaders and organizations as they develop their own programs and policies, in complement to their jurisdictional mandates and priorities. It calls upon everyone – sport, recreation, physical activity and health organizations, educational institutions, social agencies, governments, and indeed, anyone who calls Canada home – to work together to enable everyone to grow, excel and achieve wellbeing through sport.

Successful implementation will require:

• Federal-Provincial/Territorial Priorities for Collaborative Action.
• Cooperation of relevant departments within each government (e.g., sport, health, education, social services, immigration and citizenship, sport and recreation infrastructure, Indigenous services, and many others) to explore the ways to achieve the outcomes and objectives of this Policy for the benefit of all.
• Commitment of non-government organizations, particularly sport organizations, to draw on this Policy in the development of policies and action plans, and to promote this Policy to their members, partners and stakeholders.
• Strategic communication of the Policy, its outcomes and objectives, and progress in its implementation to everyone involved in sport to facilitate ongoing engagement.
• Monitoring and evaluation to support implementation progress and share knowledge of effective practices across sport systems in Canada.
• Oversight to ensure progress and accountability, and to respond to emerging opportunities during the lifespan of the Policy.

Measuring success

Each government and organization is responsible for monitoring and evaluating its own contributions to achieving the Policy’s outcomes and objectives. Research and innovation are the foundation of progress. Actions stemming from this Policy need to be guided by evidence and continuously evaluated to ensure success. Federal-Provincial/Territorial work groups will play a crucial role in the process by focusing on monitoring, evaluation, data collection, and coordination to access and understand the impact of the Canadian Sport Policy 2025-2035. Respect for the diverse ways that knowledge can be acquired, and engagement with the people and communities impacted through the research process is a priority. Effective monitoring and regular reporting are the basis of both policy implementation and accountability.

The Canadian Sport Policy 2025-2035 will guide collaborative actions and other related action plans. Clearly linking policy goals to the outcomes and objectives will facilitate effective implementation and evaluation. The Federal-Provincial/Territorial Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council (SPARC) is the steward of important monitoring and reporting work, ensuring meaningful and ongoing engagement with key stakeholders to continually learn and improve.

A pan-Canadian approach

This Policy is informed by, consistent with, and complementary to many strategies and frameworks, including:

• The Framework for Recreation in Canada (Canadian Parks and Recreation Association, 2015),
• A Common Vision for Increasing Physical Activity and Reducing Sedentary Living in Canada: Let’s Get Moving (Federal, Provincial and Territorial Governments, 2018),
• Active Canada 20/20 (ParticipACTION, 2012),
• Canadian High Performance Sport Strategy (2019),
• Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (2022),
• The Calls to Action of the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2015), particularly Calls to Action 87 to 91, the federally endorsed United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2021), and the National Strategy for Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity, Recreation, and Traditional Practices.

This Policy is also complementary to Federal-Provincial/Territorial policies, strategies, and regulations governing sport. These include policies and statements related to anti-doping, maltreatment, discrimination, and concussion, such as the Red Deer Declaration for the Prevention of Harassment, Abuse and Discrimination in Sport, policies which recognize and support the rights of underrepresented groups, and others.

This Policy recognizes the roles and responsibilities of the Federal-Provincial/Territorial governments described in the National Recreation Statement (1987) and other governmental agreements. Nothing in the Policy should be interpreted as overriding the jurisdiction of each respective order of government. Each government will determine how best to advance the goals and areas for action within this Policy, considering their own jurisdictional mandates and priorities. Further, it is recognized that all governments may not adopt or recognize all the policies, strategies and frameworks listed, or may adopt or recognize variations of them, as necessary to fulfill their mandates and priorities.

From an international policy perspective, this Policy supports the objectives of such policies as the World Anti-Doping Code, the World Health Organization Global Action Plan on Physical Activity, the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 3 – good health and wellbeing.

Conclusion

A clear and compelling call for values-driven sport

The first Canadian Sport Policy 2002 was a ground-breaking initiative that directed government collaboration toward a collective vision for sport in Canada. The second Canadian Sport Policy 2012 went further, articulating a more ambitious vision and enlisting a broader cross-section of collaborators to create a policy for all Canadians. This third Canadian Sport Policy 2025-2035 builds on its predecessor policies and describes an updated, shared vision for sport in Canada. The values grounding this Policy were proposed and defined by a full range of voices in sport in Canada. Now it is up to everyone to elevate those values in their decision-making, leadership, and participation.

The potential of sport to powerfully benefit people and communities is beyond doubt. It is the realization of this great potential that is challenging, just as it is challenging for an athlete to fully realize their own potential. And just as the athlete cannot succeed alone, the sport ecosystem must collaborate and cooperate – this includes governments, sport, recreation, physical activity and stakeholder organizations, athletes, coaches, officials, administrators, professionals and volunteers. We hold ourselves and each other accountable. We must live shared values to attain the Vision: Working together to enable everyone to grow, excel and achieve wellbeing through sport.