Field Hockey Canada is poised and ready to act
Last month, the Government of Canada announced a generational investment into the Canadian sport system. Representatives from Field Hockey Canada (FHC), including both executive leadership and athletes, were present as the Secretary of State for Sport, the Honourable Adam van Koeverden, outlined a bold and ambitious funding commitment to strengthen sport across the country.
This announcement has been met across the sport sector with a shared question: what comes next?
At Field Hockey Canada, we see this not as a question, but as a call to action.
As part of a new “From the Desk of the CEO” series, I will be sharing perspectives on what this investment means for our sport, how it aligns with our strategic direction, and why FHC is uniquely positioned to deliver meaningful, system-wide impact.
A Transformational Investment
At his announcement on April 29, 2026, Secretary of State van Koeverden outlined that the sport investments included in the Government of Canada’s Spring Economic Update are directed toward five core pillars of the sport system:
- Build (Infrastructure)
- Protect (Governance)
- Participation (Accessibility)
- Perform (World Class Athletes)
- Host (International Competition)
The scale of the announced investment is significant:
- Year 1: $129M
- Year 2: $149M
- Years 3–5: $159M annually
It is important to note that this funding is time-bound, with a reduction following Year five. This means that the time to act is now. National Sport Organizations must move beyond incremental change, they need to be ready to deliver true transformation.
Why Field Hockey Canada Is Ready
Field Hockey Canada is already well along the path to a transformed system.
Our 2020–2025 strategic plan marked a deliberate shift from a narrow national team focus to a broader mandate: delivering on the full scope of our role as a National Sport Organization. That meant investing in community, governance, pathways, and sustainable growth.
This work was built on a critical foundation.
1. A Necessary Reset (2019–2022)
In 2019, FHC undertook a full organizational reset – strengthening governance, stabilizing finances, and building a fit-for-purpose structure. This work was essential. Without it, none of the progress that followed would have been possible.
At the same time, we maximized the performance of experienced national teams:
- The Men’s National Team qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo
- The Women’s National Team secured a World Cup 2022 berth
The dual focus on stabilization and performance created the platform for long-term growth.
2. Rebuild and Expand (2023–Present)
From 2023 onward, our focus shifted to rebuilding and expanding the system.
We built key partnerships.
- Strengthened provincial alignment in British Columbia and Alberta
- Re-engaged the Maritimes, including the return of New Brunswick
- Reinstated national youth championships across regions
We invested in community.
- Invested over $1M into community programming
- Expanded the Stick Together initiative, reaching over 60,000 participants across 66+ projects
We launched a renewed hosting strategy.
- Delivered major events such as JPAC 2024 and IPAC 2024
- Built out an annual hosting calendar, including CAN-AM series and partnerships like the Sikh Games Canada.
We extended the player pathway opportunities available.
- Integrated U SPORTS assets into FHC
- Established a full pathway from youth through to national teams and masters participation
3. A “Team of Teams” Model
A key enabler of this progress has been the implementation of a “Team of Teams” operational model.
This approach has:
- Empowered committees, members, and community leaders
- Accelerated delivery across multiple priority areas
- Expanded capacity beyond the central organization
Through this model, coach education has been scaled nationally, while provincial bodies are now delivering aligned programming, helping to ensure consistency in development across the country. Officials’ development pathways have also been built and strengthened. This is not just growth – it is system building.
Positioned for the Future
When an organization has been through a full reset and rebuild, there comes a moment when it reaches critical mass – where the foundations are strong, the system is aligned, and the capacity to deliver is real. I believe that FHC is at that moment.
We are:
- Governance-ready
- Operationally aligned
- Strategically focused
- Community-connected
- Performance-driven
This positions us to fully leverage the Government of Canada’s investment across all five of their funding pillars – Build, Protect, Participation, Perform, and Host.
What Comes Next
While we are awaiting more details on how the funding will be allocated, the announced federal funding represents more than financial support. It represents trust. Trust that sport organizations can deliver safe, inclusive, high-performing systems that serve athletes and communities across Canada. At FHC, we intend to meet that trust with action.
In the next article in this series, I will explore each of the five pillars in more detail and outline how Field Hockey Canada’s strategy directly aligns with – and is ready to accelerate through – this historic investment.
The opportunity is here. And we are ready.
Susan Ahrens
Chief Executive Officer
