BC Sport Participation Program

Sport and recreation programs reach all corners of BC

The BC Sport Participation Program increases participation in community and school-based sports, providing opportunities for youth, Aboriginal people, seniors and people with disabilities to lead active and healthy lifestyles.

Multi-year funding opportunities for sport programs

The BC Sport Participation Program (BCSP Program) helps provincial and multi-sport organizations extend their community reach and improve the quality of sport and recreation delivery. The funding support is invested in resource development, training of coaches and leaders and attracting new participants.

Funded equally by Sport Canada and the Province of BC through 2010 Legacies Now, the BCSP Program is in its second three-year sports funding phase. Since inception in 2004, it has invested more than $4 million and captured more than 200,000 new sport participants in over 110 communities province-wide, creating new opportunities for children and youth, people with disabilities, seniors, Aboriginal youth, and girls and women.

Several of the projects that were initiated in BC to increase sport and recreation participation were so successful they expanded nationally. These include Skate Canada’s (BC/Yukon) Pond to Podium, Gymnastics BC’s Kids CanMove, BC Wheelchair Sports’ Bridging the Gap, BC Blind Sports’ Early Intervention Program, and Swim BC’s See Yourself Swimming.

To learn about current provincial projects that have received sports funding, click here.

Sports funding success stories

The BC Wheelchair Sports Association received sports funding through the BCSP Program for their Bridging the Gap program, which is changing the lives of many people with disabilities.

"When I had my accident I thought I would never be able to do anything. Now I play wheelchair rugby and my sense of pride and happiness is greater because of my participation in sport."
— Participant, BC Wheelchair Sports - Bridging the Gap program

Basketball BC received sports funding for its Steve Nash Youth Basketball Program to train coaches throughout the province in delivering the program to youth.

"I believe everyone in amateur sport would agree that coaching is a key to properly implementing programs, and funding assistance provided by BCSPP has allowed this to happen...[by providing] assistance for start up, equipment, resources and facility."
— Lawrie Johns, Youth Development, Basketball BC’s Steve Nash Youth Basketball Program

The BC Amateur Softball Association received sports funding for its fun, introductory program called Learn to Play supporting children, new coaches and Aboriginal communities.

"The kids were full of smiles and giggles and when it was time to go home the leaders were engulfed with hugs and thank-yous. As a lasting legacy we left behind two full team sets of softball equipment so they can hopefully create a Learn to Play league on the reserve next season."
— Sarah Garrett, Program Coordinator, BC Amateur Softball Assocation

Sports funding recipients:
View 2007-2009 funding recipients
View 2004-2007 funding recipients

The BC Sport Participation Program is supported by the Province of BC and the Government of Canada.