Reflecting on Progress and Looking Ahead
Field Hockey Canada recently held its Annual General Meeting with members from across the country attending. This formal process is strengthened by Field Hockey Canada’s commitment the monthly member meetings, which have been a cornerstone of aligned national planning and community growth over the course of the current strategic cycle.
The organization’s work continues to align closely with the recently released Future of Sport Commission Report and the Canada Sport Policy, both of which outline a bold and inclusive vision for the future of sport in Canada. These frameworks emphasize a renewed balance between mass participation and high performance, with a strong focus on access, safety, and inclusion for all.
The Commission’s report proposes a transformative approach to sport governance, including the creation of an independent entity to ensure safe delivery of sport and physical activity across Canada. This recommendation resonates deeply with Field Hockey Canada’s ongoing efforts to build a safer, more integrated, participant-centred field hockey system. We are encouraged by this national direction, which mirrors the system-level work Field Hockey Canada led in the last quadrennial and continue to advance.
Quadrennial Review Highlights
At the recent AGM, Field Hockey Canada shared its progress review, highlighting key achievements from the 2020–2025 Strategic Plan:
- Governance & Safeguarding: Expanded governance structures and embedded Safe Sport as a lived value across the organization. Implementation of zero tolerance approach to safe sport.
- Pathway Development: A comprehensive national athlete pathway from U16 to Masters level, with national teams and domestic competitions at all levels
- Event Growth: Extended national pathway events and enhanced international hosting at venues across Canada, including first international staging in Calgary and Surrey.
- Community Investment: Over $1 million in funding directed into community projects from coast to coast to coast, meeting communities where they are to deliver what they need.
- Digital Infrastructure: Developed a national database to support system-wide integration and efficiency and standardized national infrastructure in service to all.
These milestones reflect our commitment to building an aligned sport system that is inclusive, resilient, and future-ready.
Strategic Alignment & Future Focus
Throughout the last strategic cycle, FHC has maintained a balanced focus on grassroots development and high-performance excellence—an approach that aligns seamlessly with the evolving national sport landscape. As we prepare to launch our new Strategic Plan in the coming weeks, our leadership remains committed to bold, future-focused action.
FHC’s Senior Leadership Team is actively collaborating with provincial leaders to ensure national alignment and a functional system that meets the needs of current and future participants. Together, we are shaping a sport environment that reflects the best of Canada—one that is safe, inclusive, and aspirational.
Celebrating Impact & Acknowledging Challenges
As we close out the 2020–2025 Strategic Plan, we are proud to reflect of our collective progress and a celebration of what we’ve built together.
Over the past five years, Field Hockey Canada has grown into a stable, inclusive, and forward-looking organization. We’ve welcomed new provincial members, expanded domestic hosting through U SPORTS Nationals, launched accessible education platforms, and delivered over $1 million in direct community funding.
Internationally, our teams have inspired us with historic milestones: the Tokyko Olympics’ in 2021, our WNT back on the world stage after 28 years in the 2022 World Cup, an inaugural junior continental championship win, and consistent qualification to the biennial pinnacle event for junior national teams, the Junior World Cup. These achievements are a testament to the dedication of our athletes, coaches, volunteers, and staff and the strength of our system.
We recognize that challenges remain. Building long term, sustainable funding, standardized domestic leagues, and broader participation through inclusive and accessible pathways are essential to our continued growth. Our goal for the coming strategic cycle is clear: to support our national teams in reaching the world’s top 10 and to build a sport system that reflects and fuels that ambition. A system that embodies the values of Canadian sport.
As we move into this exciting next phase and launch the new strategic plan, we look forward to achieving our next milestones with you, our valued community members. Keep up to date with annual reporting here and check out our governance pages to access up to date information. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to the future of field hockey in Canada.
