Sport for Life’s Response to the Future of Sport in Canada Commission’s Final Report
Sport for Life welcomes the Future of Sport in Canada Commission’s Final Report as a defining moment for sport and physical activity in Canada. The Commission has made clear that Canada’s sport system has too often been fragmented, underfunded, and unsafe, and that urgent, systemwide action is needed. We acknowledge the courage of survivors, athletes, participants, and families who shared their experiences with the Commission, and we are committed to centering their safety and well-being in our work. The report’s 98 Calls to Action present a clear and urgent roadmap to strengthen safe sport, improve system alignment, and ensure that quality sport and physical literacy experiences are accessible to everyone in Canada.
The Commission’s findings reflect what Sport for Life has been building toward for more than two decades. The report’s emphasis on accessibility, inclusion, safe sport, and system alignment strongly reflects the principles that underpin quality sport, physical literacy and Long-Term Development, which are foundational to Sport for Life’s Mission. Our Long-Term Development in Sport and Physical Activity framework is referenced throughout the report, including in the federal-provincial bilateral agreements that use Sport for Life’s first three stages as the benchmark for physical literacy development in children and youth, and is critical to both quality programming and effective, holistic athlete development.
Sport for Life’s work aligns strongly with the report’s findings, in particular:
- The report’s emphasis on prevention, safe sport, and quality environments aligns closely with Sport for Life’s Quality Sport approach, grounded in good people, good programs, and good places.
- The report’s call for developmentally appropriate programming across the lifespan reflects the foundation of Sport for Life’s Long-Term Development in Sport and Physical Activity framework and our work in developing physical literacy.
- The report’s focus on reducing barriers for equity-deserving groups aligns with Sport for Life’s work to improve access, inclusion, and belonging across community sport and physical activity.
- The report’s call for stronger alignment across sport, education, health, and community systems reflects Sport for Life’s role in convening partners and supporting more coherent implementation across sectors
Sport for Life is ready to work with governments, sport organizations, Indigenous communities, newcomer support agencies, schools, health partners, and stakeholders across the sport and physical activity ecosystem to turn the 98 Calls to Action into aligned action and measurable impact. Quality sport leads to safe sport.
Sport for Life Society
Sport for Life is Canada’s national leader in physical literacy and Long-Term Development. Through our framework and partnerships, we educate, train and connect leaders, educators, and organizations at every level of the sport and physical activity system.