Sport for Life Summit


The Sport for Life Summit brings together leaders who strive to enhance quality sport and physical activity throughout Canada. By establishing an environment for knowledge sharing and idea generation through thoughtful and open dialogue, the Summit fosters connection, advances best practices and identifies opportunities for innovation. We aspire to ensure quality sport and physical activity programming, and the development of physical literacy, are equitably available to everyone.

When everyone has the opportunity to take part in quality sport and physical activity, the benefits to our population and society are immense. People live healthier, more active lives. Those pursuing high performance have a clear pathway and greater possibility for sporting achievement. Communities–from the physical communities in which we live to the collective national sport community–grow stronger and more aligned.

Theme: Everyone Belongs

At its core, quality sport and physical activity is accessible, fun, and safe. In today’s landscape, the positive benefits of quality programs and environments have taken on renewed significance – they must be universally welcoming and inclusive of everyone. This means programming must be participant-centred, and all participants should have the opportunity to build social connections, experience developmentally appropriate and progressive challenge, and enhance their mental wellness while improving their physical literacy. That is how we, as sport and physical activity leaders, can foster feelings of true belonging.

Let’s join together and share ways to cultivate a sport and physical activity ecosystem that is aligned and interconnected, and where individuals feel secure, included and integral throughout every stage of their pathway.

Communities and Dates

Three communities will be delivering their Summits on various dates from January to the end of March 2024:

The 2024 Sport for Life Summit is a regional event featuring live, local content relevant to the sport and physical activity landscape in each respective area. 

Planned activities will vary from one community to another, but the Summits will feature a variety of in-person presentations and/or workshops on quality sport, physical activity, and physical literacy topics that relate to the event’s overarching theme “Everyone Belongs.”

Having completed a multi-community Summit in 2022 and 2023, Sport for Life saw tremendous value in this event approach for local communities, including:

  • connecting local sectors, organizations and individuals;
  • making the event more accessible and enabling programs to focus on local, community-specific issues to positively impact health and wellness, and strengthening existing community partnerships.

Tailoring initiatives to local interests ensures sport and physical activity’s positive impact resonates with each community’s identity. That’s why each 2024 Sport for Life Summit host community’s program may look a little different—to cater to the region’s needs and topics of interest at that time and foster the best possible collaborative and thought-provoking opportunities for attendees.

The Sport for Life Summit is where thought leaders, researchers, administrators, practitioners, programmers and sport system stakeholders unite to improve quality sport and physical activity in Canada. 

At the Summit, you can expect to: 

  • Network & Collaborate: Forge connections, brainstorm ideas, and discover opportunities in an environment designed for open and thoughtful dialogue.
  • Align Sectors: Join the movement to align the sport, recreation, health, and education sectors. Together, we’ll address and remove barriers and identify a successful path forward.
  • Shape the Future: Get ready to ignite your creativity! Discover fresh ideas and inventive strategies to empower you–and your clubs, organizations and communities–to make a lasting impact. Hear from and collaborate with the industry’s leading figures, gaining insights to shape the future of quality sport and physical activity

If you have any questions at all about the event, please email Emily Rand: emily@sportforlife.ca.

If you want to look back on previous Summits, access information from 2022 here and 2023 here.


We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.             

Hosted by Sport for Life

Early Bird registration is now available exclusively for the Ottawa event on January 25-26, 2024, at the Nepean Sportsplex!

How to Claim Your Early Bird Pricing for the Summit in Ottawa

The early bird rate for both days is $200+taxes. The early bird rate for one day only is $100+taxes. These rates will be available until December 31, 2023. From January 1 – 24, 2024 the general admission price will be $250+taxes for both days and $150+taxes for one day. Tickets are limited so be sure to book early!

Ottawa Summit Information

The Ottawa Summit will feature a full two-day program. Thursday, January 25 will include a LTD Leads Day for a targeted NSO, MSO and Sport Canada audience, as well as a full day of sessions for a general audience. Friday’s program will be open to everyone and feature a variety of concurrent sessions.

Specific information on keynote presenters and session topics will be available soon. As well, stay tuned for an update on a social event on Thursday evening!

Flight Discount for Delegates Needing Air Travel

Air Canada is pleased to offer you up to a 10% discount off the base fare to attend the Sport for Life Summit in Ottawa in January 2024.

To book, see www.aircanada.com. The travel period begins Wednesday, January 17, 2024 and ends Saturday, February 03, 2024.

  • Start your flight search by entering promo code PKMTRB71 in the box provided.
  • Choose the departure city and destination city (Ottawa).
  • Select the departure date and return date.
  • Click SEARCH FLIGHTS.

The discount will be automatically applied.

Ottawa Accommodation Information

A room block is being held at the Ramada by Wyndham Ottawa On The Rideau hotel.

  • Address: 2259 Prince of Wales Dr, Ottawa, ON K2E 6Z8
  • Rooms and rates: Executive Rooms at $143.00 and Deluxe Rooms at $161.00
  • Available dates: January 24 – 28, 2024
  • Please book by: December 28, 2023
  • Group Block Name: Sport for Life Summit
  • Group Block Code: 012424SPO
  • Reservation methods: Guests make their own reservations by:
    • 1. phoning the hotel direct at 1(613)288-3500 or 1(800)565-1311 or
    • 2. online at www.ramadaottawa.com. In the reservation bar there is a tab for More Options, in the drop-down menu, select Group Code and input the group code 012424SPO.

If you have any issues with booking, please phone the hotel at 1(613)288-3500 or 1(800)565-1311.

 

If you have any questions or need assistance with registration, please contact Emily Rand at emily@sportforlife.ca.

Hosted by Sport for Life in partnership with Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I·SPARC) and the Inter-Cultural Association of Victoria (ICA). 

Registration is now available for the Victoria event on March 1, 2024, at the Esquimalt Gorge Park Pavillion

Visit our Victoria Summit registration page to register and secure your spot today. 

Victoria Summit Information 

The Victoria Summit will focus on overcoming and dismantling barriers to participation for New to Canada participants and Indigenous Peoples in sport and physical activity. The event will explore how we can dismantle and overcome the barriers so that everybody can access sport and physical activity opportunities. Summit delegates will collaborate on case studies, listen to panel discussions and network as they explore opportunities within their organization and the broader community to overcome and dismantle barriers to participation and pathways to excellence.

Post-Summit Workshops*

In addition to the Summit, please check out our community workshops available on Saturday, March 2, following the Summit. 

  • Introduction to Belonging in Sport and Physical Activity 
    • Time: 9:30-11:30 a.m.
    • Cost: $55/person
  • Indigenous Communities: Active for Life (hosted by I·SPARC)
    • Time: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
    • Cost: Free

*Please be advised that it is not mandatory to attend the summit in order to participate in the workshops.

If you have any questions or need assistance with registration, please contact Shelley Roddie at shelley@sportforlife.ca.

Hosted by Reseau Accès Participation, Sport’Aide, Réseau des unités régionales de Loisir et de Sport, Champions for Life and Générations actives.

Coming soon!

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