Facts About Canada

Sports in Canada

Sports in Canada are a core part of national life and identity—from community rinks and fields to elite international competition. Canada recognizes ice hockey as its national winter sport and lacrosse as its national summer sport, and supports a wide spectrum of professional leagues, university and college sport, school athletics, and recreational participation across diverse climates and geographies.

At a glance — Sports in Canada
National sports Ice hockey (winter) • Lacrosse (summer)
Popular by spectatorship Ice hockey • Canadian football (CFL) • Soccer • Basketball • Baseball • Curling
Broad participation Soccer • Hockey & ringette • Basketball • Volleyball • Golf • Tennis • Running & cycling • Skiing & snowboarding
High-performance system Sport Canada funding • Own the Podium • Canadian Olympic Committee • Canadian Paralympic Committee
Safe sport & anti-doping Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) • Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport

National sports and identity

Under the National Sports of Canada Act, ice hockey is recognized as the national winter sport and lacrosse as the national summer sport. Hockey culture includes community rinks, junior leagues, and professional clubs; lacrosse is played in field and box (indoor) codes, with strong Indigenous roots.

Governance and funding

  • Federal: Sport Canada funds national sport organizations (NSOs), athletes, and system partners; high-performance investment is coordinated with Own the Podium.
  • Olympic & Paralympic: The Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee lead Team Canada at the Games and support athlete pathways.
  • Provinces/territories & municipalities: Operate school sport systems, community recreation, facilities, and provincial/territorial sport organizations.
  • Integrity: The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) administers anti-doping and education; safe-sport frameworks set conduct, complaint, and discipline standards.

Popular sports (overview)

Ice hockey

Played at all levels from minor to professional. Seven Canadian clubs compete in the National Hockey League, alongside extensive junior and university circuits.

Soccer (association football)

Canada fields men’s and women’s national teams and supports professional men’s leagues including Major League Soccer (Canadian clubs) and the Canadian Premier League. Community soccer has broad participation.

Canadian football

The Canadian Football League (CFL) features distinct Canadian rules (three downs, larger field). The Grey Cup is one of the country’s largest annual sporting events.

Basketball

Grassroots participation is growing; Canada has one NBA franchise (Toronto Raptors) and a domestic pro circuit (Canadian Elite Basketball League). Canada’s national teams compete in FIBA events.

Baseball

The Toronto Blue Jays play in Major League Baseball; extensive youth, collegiate summer, and independent-league systems operate nationwide.

Curling

A major winter participation and spectator sport with national championships and deep club networks.

Individual and outdoor sports

Running, cycling, golf, tennis, skiing/snowboarding, speed skating, figure skating, swimming, canoe/kayak, rowing, triathlon, climbing, and more reflect Canada’s varied terrain and seasons.

Emerging and community sports

Cricket, rugby (union & league), ultimate, pickleball, badminton, table tennis and others have growing club structures and events.

Major leagues and competitions (selected)

  • Professional clubs/leagues: NHL (Canadian clubs), CFL, MLS (Canadian clubs), CPL, CEBL, minor/junior circuits (e.g., CHL).
  • Signature events: Grey Cup (CFL), national curling championships, Memorial Cup (major junior), Canadian National Figure Skating & Speed Skating championships, Canadian Open (golf), National Bank Open (tennis), city marathons, Canada Winter/Summer Games (multi-sport).

High-performance sport

Athletes train through NSOs, provincial/territorial bodies, Canadian Sport Institutes/Centres, and university programs. Funding supports coaching, science/medicine, equipment, training environments, and travel. Canada competes at the Olympic, Paralympic, and other multi-sport Games, as well as world championships across sports.

University, college, and school sport

  • University: U Sports governs national university championships; conferences organize league play.
  • College: The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) oversees college championships.
  • School sport: Provincial/territorial federations run high-school competition and eligibility frameworks.

Indigenous, Arctic, and northern sport

Sport in Canada includes Indigenous games and traditional activities (e.g., Arctic Winter Games events, Dene and Inuit games). Land-based and cultural sport programs promote health, identity, and reconciliation.

Facilities, climate, and participation

Canada’s climate and geography shape facility needs—indoor rinks and fieldhouses, outdoor fields and trails, mountain and coastal venues. Municipal recreation, clubs, schools, post-secondary institutions, and private operators together provide access for lessons, leagues, drop-in play, and events.

Safe sport, inclusion, and accessibility

National policies emphasize safety, equity, and inclusion, including gender equity, 2SLGBTQI+ inclusion, Indigenous participation, and equitable access for persons with disabilities. The Canadian Paralympic Committee and NSOs deliver adaptive sport pathways and competitions.

Seasonal calendar (typical cadence)

  • Autumn–winter: Hockey, curling, basketball, volleyball, skiing/snowboarding, speed skating.
  • Spring: Playoffs for winter leagues; running season begins; soccer/baseball pre-season.
  • Summer: Soccer, baseball, athletics, cycling, golf, tennis, rowing, canoe/kayak; multi-sport Games in select years.

See also

External links (official)

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