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Colin Higgs’s life was about to change. The Memorial University professor was working in his office in 1979 when there came a knock at the door: three world-class athletes were looking for his help. Still in the early years of his career, he was beginning to develop a reputation for his work in biomechanics, sport…

There’s no disputing the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted traditional models of sport and physical activity delivery, but according to Dr. John Cairney that’s not necessarily a bad thing. During a webinar in early June that he delivered in collaboration with Sport for Life that drew nearly 1000 registrants from around the world,…

As the Physical Literacy for Communities - British Columbia (PL4C-BC) initiative rolls out across the province, leaders from Sport for Life have been theorizing the best way to approach and collaborate with Indigenous participants.  In 2019 they began work with two Indigenous communities, and word began to travel. When four more Indigenous communities applied the…

She saw it as an opportunity. Mandi Graham is the executive director of Engage Sport North, an organization that promotes physical literacy across a broad swath of northern B.C. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced everyone to isolate at home, she knew her organization would have to innovate in order to keep people active. She also…

First he became a household name as one of the country’s most talented hockey players, then he pivoted into a new role as an advocate against sexual abuse, maltreatment and bullying. Now Sheldon Kennedy is being recognized with the Order of Sport Award and inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, in recognition of over…

It was the best idea he’d heard in a long time. Ryan Clark is the executive director of the Poco Sport Alliance, so he’s not a fresh face to sport management. But when his community was selected as part of the Physical Literacy for Communities-British Columbia Initiative (PL4C-BC) in 2018, he was thrilled by the…

The Sport for Life team completed a four-city tour of Alberta this year, mobilizing the Quality Sport for Communities and Clubs (QSCC) resource and workshop as part of a pilot project. Funded by Makadiff Sports, an Alberta-based not-for-profit organization created to encourage the growth and development of amateur sport, Richard Way and Lea Wiens visited…

Edmonton is committed to providing athletes with a pathway from grassroots to high performance while advancing opportunities for all, as part of the city’s continued efforts to implement long-term development into their everyday operations. A large part of that means investing in sport and recreation facilities. “All of our many local sport organizations are members…

Get up, get out, get active! Canadians may still be homebound as part of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that’s not stopping them from getting moving. This year’s seventh annual National Health and Fitness Day (NHFD) has gone virtual, and organizers are challenging everyone to find a fun and safe way to get some exercise on…

When it comes to the rapidly evolving physical literacy landscape in Canada, Quebec is quickly becoming a hotbed of innovation. Not only have francophones embraced the movement, they’ve already taken the lead on key initiatives. During the Sport for Life Canadian Summit this year, francophone delegates came together for a day-long exploration of their successes…

Canadian basketball is quickly joining soccer and hockey when it comes to large-scale participation nationally. Many of those behind the growth are doing it with a focus on holistic outcomes instead of elite performance. Rather than setting their sights on replicating the recent successes of the Toronto Raptors, coaches and youth activity leaders are being…

Alex Chiet left a promising career in Canadian sports to become a national consultant for Sport New Zealand, and arrived just in time to be a catalyst for a shake-up of the country's five largest youth sport organizations. As a champion of fun and inclusion, he’s been overseeing a culture shift that will change the…