Ontario Expanding Opportunities for Girls in Sport

Province’s $480,000 investment in Canadian Women & Sport will help more girls stay active and healthy

The Ontario government is investing $480,000 in Canadian Women & Sport’s The Next Play Program to expand affordable and inclusive sport and recreation opportunities for nearly 3,500 girls across the province. This made-for-Ontario initiative will provide community sport organizations with the resources needed to support the next generation of female athletes to train and grow their skills.

“Our government is proud to partner with organizations like Canadian Women & Sport that are breaking down barriers and getting more girls and young women involved in sport and recreation. With professional women’s leagues like the PWHL, the Northern Super League and the WNBA now calling Ontario home, there are more pathways than ever before for young women to pursue a career in high-performance sports.” – Neil Lumsden, Minister of Sport

Supported by the Ontario government, Canadian Women & Sport works with sport leaders, organizations and communities to encourage more girls and young women to participate in sport and physical activity. Since 2022, The Next Play has partnered with 270 organizations to support nearly 10,000 girls in sports across Ontario, helping ensure female athletes of all backgrounds can participate, build skills and reach their full potential.

“Sport plays a critical role in shaping confidence, connection and wellbeing for young people,” said Allison Sandmeyer‑Graves, CEO of Canadian Women & Sport. “Our research shows that when girls have positive sport and recreation experiences, they are more likely to build confidence, develop leadership skills and stay physically active throughout their lives. We’re grateful for the partnership and support of our long-standing funding partner Government of Ontario, which allows The Next Play to turn that evidence into action by helping community organizations create environments where girls feel they belong and are supported to stay engaged.”

The announcement comes as Toronto prepares to welcome its new WNBA team, the Toronto Tempo, for its inaugural season beginning May 8, 2026, a milestone that highlights the growing opportunities for women and girls in professional sport and reinforces the importance of strong grassroots pathways.

Quick Facts

• The Next Play provides Ontario organizations with girl‑centred training, program design support and grants to attract and retain girls in sport.
• This year’s cohort of 65 organizations spans 39 municipalities across the Greater Toronto Area, Central, Eastern and Northern Ontario, and will support approximately 3,500 children and youth.
• Since its inception in 2021-22, the Inclusive Grassroots Recreation (IGR) program has provided more than 100,000 children and youth across Ontario with opportunities to participate in sport and recreation programming in their communities.
• The Ontario government invests over $23 million annually to support local, inclusive physical activity programming, including: Ontario’s After School Program, the Inclusive Grassroots Recreation (IGR) program, the Community Aboriginal Recreation Activator Program (CARA), the Sport Pathway for Ontario Native Wellness and Variety Village.
• Ontario is investing $500 million through the Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund to help revitalize existing local sport and recreation facilities and build new spaces so more people can participate and stay active.