New investment will support Canada’s national teams, expand community participation and improve access to field hockey across the country
Field Hockey Canada will receive an additional $1,985,000 in federal funding for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, as part of the Government of Canada’s $60-million investment in National Sport Organizations. The funding will strengthen athlete development, expand opportunities for Canadians to participate in field hockey and build capacity across the national sport system.
Announced by the Government of Canada as part of a broader investment in Canadian sport, the funding brings Field Hockey Canada’s total federal core funding for 2026-2027 to $2,635,000, up from its original allocation of $650,000. The investment reflects the importance of supporting sport at every level, from community participation and grassroots development to international competition, while strengthening the organizations that deliver these opportunities. Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State for Sport, announced the additional investment as part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to strengthening the Canadian sport system and helping more Canadians experience the benefits of sport. Field Hockey Canada CEO, Susan Ahrens said the investment will impact the organization and community at all levels.
“This investment is a significant step forward for Field Hockey Canada and the entire field hockey community. It gives us an important opportunity to strengthen our national teams, remove financial barriers for athletes, and expand access to our sport in communities across Canada,” Ahrens said. “We are grateful to the Government of Canada for this support. It recognizes the work already underway across our organization and provides an opportunity to build on that foundation, creating a stronger and more accessible sport with a clear pathway from first participation through to international competition.”
Investing in athletes, coaches and communities
The additional funding will support four key priorities: strengthening national team programs, expanding community participation, developing the field hockey system, and enhancing governance and organizational capacity.
Supporting Canada’s national teams: A combined $1.1 million will be invested in the senior and junior national team programs, with funding divided equally between the women’s and men’s teams at each level.
For Canada’s national teams, the funding will help create more opportunities to compete internationally and pursue progress toward the world’s top 10. The investment will provide additional opportunities for international tours and competition at senior and junior level, strengthen athlete development and support pathway transition from junior to senior international hockey.
Expanding community participation through Stick Together: Community participation is a central focus of the investment, with $535,000 allocated to expand Field Hockey Canada’s Stick Together program.
The funding will accelerate community-level delivery, support local partners and create more opportunities for people to discover and participate in field hockey. It builds on the program’s existing foundation and Field Hockey Canada’s broader commitment to growing the sport beyond its traditional participation base.
Developing the field hockey system: The investment will strengthen the wider field hockey development system, supporting coaching and technical leadership, coach and official development, SheCAN programming, and national competitions. Together, these initiatives will help improve the quality and consistency of hockey delivery, strengthen athlete development pathways and create more opportunities for participation and progression throughout the country.
Strengthening governance and organizational capacity: Additional funding will support governance, oversight, compliance, Safe Sport, policy development and the administrative capacity needed to deliver national and community programs effectively. This includes dedicated leadership for Stick Together, helping coordinate implementation, support community partners and sustain the program’s reach.
These investments will strengthen the systems and organizational capacity required to support a safe, accountable and effective sport environment.
Building on a strong foundation
Since 2021, Field Hockey Canada has advanced a playground-to-podium approach, investing in youth pathways, community participation and initiatives focused on diversity, equity and inclusion, disability and Indigenous communities. The new funding provides an opportunity to build on this work, strengthening the connections between community participation, athlete development and high-performance success. It also comes at an important time for Canadian sport, as the Future of Sport in Canada Commission has highlighted the need to strengthen the sport system and improve access, safety and accountability. For Field Hockey Canada, the investment will support immediate priorities while helping build the capacity needed to deliver sustainable growth over the longer term.
Looking ahead
The additional funding applies to the 2026-2027 fiscal year, with approved commitments to be delivered by March 31, 2027. Field Hockey Canada will work with its staff, provincial and territorial partners, clubs, coaches, officials and athletes to implement the funded initiatives and report on their outcomes. While the investment creates significant opportunities, continued funding beyond the current fiscal year is not guaranteed. Delivering measurable results and demonstrating the impact of this investment will be important to sustaining progress and strengthening the case for future support.
“We have an opportunity to make a meaningful difference for athletes and communities across Canada,” Ahrens added. “Our focus now is on turning this investment into tangible outcomes: more opportunities to play, stronger development pathways, better support for our athletes, performance on the top international stage and a sport that continues to grow and thrive across the country.”
Field Hockey Canada thanks the Government of Canada and Sport Canada for their investment in the future of field hockey and looks forward to working with the broader field hockey community to make the most of this opportunity.
