CEO, Susan Ahrens welcomes investment in stronger national sport system
On behalf of Field Hockey Canada, I would like to applaud the Government of Canada for its investment in sport announced in this week’s Spring Economic Update. This commitment marks a pivotal moment for the Canadian sport system and is welcome news following years of underfunding.
At a press conference in Vancouver yesterday morning, attended by myself and members of our Men’s and Women’s National Teams, Secretary of Sport Adam van Koeverden called the announced $755 million in sport funding a generational investment and noted its significance as the ultimate nation-building project. Field Hockey Canada fully agrees, and we are delighted that the government is affirming sport as a national priority that strengthens communities, supports health and wellbeing, and inspires generations across all performance streams from playground to podium.
NEWS & LINKS:
Funding Snapshot
The federal government’s $755 million investment over five years, along with $118 million in ongoing annual funding, represents the most significant reinforcement of Canada’s sport system in decades. This includes $660 million over five years dedicated to increasing participation levels and improving safe sport systems.
With the base funding for National Sport Organizations remaining largely unchanged since 2005, this significant funding increase addresses a long-standing gap which has stretched NSO’s capacity and challenged international competitiveness. This investment provides stability and capacity for Field Hockey Canada to support sport growth, governance, hosting and programs to serve athletes, coaches, officials and community partners.
For Field Hockey Canada, this announcement arrives at a critical time. Like many NSOs, we have delivered meaningful impact across our field hockey ecosystem, despite constrained resources over the last quadrennial. The federal government’s commitment will enable us to accelerate the transformations underway to better govern, grow, and modernize our field hockey system, ensuring more resources flow directly to the athletes and participants from playground to podium.
A central pillar of this funding is focused on sport participation growth which directly aligns with one of three priority objectives in our current Strategic Plan – Grow. With stated targets toward increasing participation, encouraging diversity and expanding event hosting, we are well poised to meet many of the requirements that will be mandated as part of this funding
We have programs already in place to meet this moment. Through the Government of Canada’s Community Sport for All Initiative, FHC’s Stick Together program has delivered over $1,000,000 in funding to communities across Canada, enabling more than 100 community-based projects across 10 provinces and one territory. These initiatives have reached more than 90 communities and engaged nearly 30,000 participants. And this new funding will help us grow even further.
The enhanced athlete funding included in this announcement will help us continue to improve supports for our athletes, including mental health support and safe sport environments. And investments tied to hosting and infrastructure will further ensure that facilities developed for major events continue to serve our sport community for years to come.
This landmark investment in sport will have immediate and long-term impacts for field hockey in Canada. Costs for both our national teams and our local communities have sky-rocketed in recent years and this helps us re-balance the playing field and offer more opportunities for our members to play, grow and excel.
On behalf of Field Hockey Canada, I’d like to extend our sincere appreciation to the Government of Canada, including the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance and National Revenue, and the Secretary of Sport Adam van Koeverden, for recognizing the vital role sport plays in building a stronger, healthier and more connected Canada.
