Canadian Youth Leaders Join Global REACH Initiative to Shape the Future of Sport
Sport for Life is proud to announce the Canadian participants in REACH, an international project led by TAFISA (The Association For International Sport for All). Bringing together organizations from 10 nations, REACH empowers young people by expanding their role in leadership and decision-making within the Sport for All movement.
Helena Moya, Project Advisor at TAFISA, shared her enthusiasm: “Canada’s engagement in the REACH project is fantastic. The passion of their applicants and the strength of their selected youth show a deep commitment to the future of Sport for All. We are thrilled to have Sport for Life as a key partner and look forward to the contributions of their entire team.”
Two Pathways for Canadian Youth Leadership
REACH Youth Community: Building Skills and Sharing Voices
The open call for Canada’s Youth Community received an inspiring 51 applications from across the country, reflecting the enthusiasm of young people for Sport for All leadership. From this strong pool, 15 participants were selected to build leadership skills through certified online courses, contribute to international workshops, and participate in focus groups shaping the new Youth Engagement Charter. This ensures that youth voices from Canada play a role in defining the future of Sport for All worldwide.
REACH Youth Task Force: Strategic Leadership Role
The REACH framework allows partner organizations flexibility in how they identify their national Task Force representative to best serve project objectives. For Canada’s representative on the 15-member international Youth Task Force, Sport for Life appointed Shelley Roddie, Manager of Events.
This appointment ensures Canada is represented by someone with the organizational knowledge and international experience required for the Task Force’s demanding responsibilities. As Canada’s representative, Shelley will collaborate with peers from eight other countries, receive advanced in-person training, co-design and implement a fully funded Canadian Community Action project, and present its impact at the TAFISA World Congress in Prague.
“It’s an honour to represent Canada,” Shelley said. “I am most excited to work alongside the inspiring youth in our Canadian Community to create a meaningful, youth-led project that makes a real difference here at home.”
Delivering Impact Through Strategic Partnership
This dual structure allows Canada to maximize both youth development and project delivery. The Youth Community builds leadership capacity and brings diverse, authentic youth perspectives, while the Task Force representative ensures those insights are translated into concrete international action with lasting impact.
The Canadian Community Action project, to be announced in spring 2026, will be shaped directly by Youth Community input. Canada’s approach positions us to contribute meaningfully to the global conversation on youth engagement while supporting the next generation of Sport for All leaders. Together, these participants will help shape a more inclusive and youth-driven future for sport in Canada and internationally.