GATINEAU, August 13, 2021

The Government of Canada is committed to supporting communities across the country in building stronger and healthier populations, and to helping them recover from the impacts of COVID-19. The transformative power of sport plays an important role in achieving this goal. It builds self-esteem and leadership skills and allows children and youth to grow and thrive—physically, emotionally and mentally.

Recognizing that barriers to sport programs exist in many segments of the population, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage, today announced $80 million over two years, starting in 2021–22, to support organized sport at the community level to help Canadians and communities recover from the impacts of COVID-19.

The objective of the Community Sport for All initiative is to remove barriers and increase sport participation rates for underrepresented populations.

National-level organizations or those able to implement projects in more than one province or territory will be invited to submit their proposals over the coming months. Proposals selected for funding will work with community-based groups to undertake activities aimed at addressing barriers to participation in sport, particularly among Black, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQQIA+ and new Canadians.