SPORT FOR NEWCOMERS CANADA EXPANDS TO ST. JOHN’S AND OTTAWA
OTTAWA (February 6, 2026) - Commonwealth Sport Canada is pleased to announce the expansion of its Sport for Newcomers Canada (S4N) program to St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Ottawa, Ontario. This expansion represents the tenth and eleventh S4N project since 2019 and are delivered in collaboration with local partners AMAL Unite & Empower and the YMCA of the National Capital Region.
“Creating a truly inclusive sport system means meeting people where they are and designing opportunities that reflect the diversity of today’s Canada,” said Claire Carver-Dias, President of Commonwealth Sport Canada (CSC). “The expansion of Sport for Newcomers to St. John’s and Ottawa is about more than adding new locations, it’s about strengthening communities, building pathways to participation, and ensuring newcomers can see themselves welcomed and valued in sport from their very first experience. Through trusted local partnerships, we are helping shape a sport system that is more responsive, more equitable, and better equipped to serve all Canadians.”
Through strong community partnerships, S4N supports newcomer access to inclusive, quality sport experiences that foster connection, participation, and a sense of belonging. The program works alongside newcomer-serving organizations to reduce barriers and create welcoming sport environments for individuals and families that are new to Canada and program learnings, and best practices are shared broadly with the Canadian sport community, strengthening the system.
“We’re so excited to partner with Commonwealth Sport Canada through Sport for Newcomers, and we’re honoured to be selected as the first organization in Newfoundland and Labrador to deliver this initiative. Through Bloom, our wellness and community connection program at Amal Unite & Empower, we see how recreation and physical activity help newcomers build confidence, form friendships, and feel a real sense of belonging in their new home,” says Hillary Bellows on behalf of Bloom Wellness, Amal Unite and Empower, St. John's, NL. “This partnership will strengthen our capacity to offer more welcoming and consistent opportunities for newcomers to connect through sport and movement, and we’re excited to help build stronger, healthier communities across Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Newcomers now represent nearly 25 percent of Canada’s population. Many are youth, and many face significantly greater barriers to accessing sport and physical activity compared to their Canadian-born peers. While the Canadian sport system has not historically been built equitably for all, programs like Sport for Newcomers are part of a growing movement of organizations and individuals taking intentional action to create positive, lasting change so that everyone, including those new to Canada, can participate fully.
“The YMCA of the National Capital Region is excited to partner in the Sport for Newcomer (S4N) program for 2026. We’re excited to provide equitable access to sports, for those who might otherwise face barriers. Newcomer youth, in particular, often encounter challenges beyond their control that limit their participation. We know firsthand the positive impact sports have on youth—supporting their health, fostering connections with peers, and strengthening ties to their communities. Through this partnership, we aim to help newcomer youth overcome barriers to participation, develop leadership skills, and become active, healthy members of their schools and communities,” says Katie Sexton, Vice President, Employment and Newcomer Services; Camp; and Health, Fitness and Aquatics.
Since 2019, Sport for Newcomers has supported newcomer participation in sport across communities nationwide, with the goal of advancing social inclusion and equitably increasing sport participation rates to match those of Canadian-born peers. The program is co-designed with sustainability at its core, leveraging cross-sector partnerships and capacity development with IRCC-funded newcomer-serving organizations. Inclusive, barrier-free, quality sport opportunities are offered throughout each 4-month project, alongside the development of local resources, tools, and guides that support long-term impact and ongoing commitment from national and local sport organizations.
“At the heart of S4N is an intentional focus on building belonging through sport,” says Ryan Pelley, Program Manager at Commonwealth Sport Canada. “Experience has shown that listening to newcomers, engaging through co-design approaches, and welcoming participants into environments that reflect their needs and interests are critical to creating safe, enjoyable, and meaningful sport experiences. S4N is more than a gesture of support for individuals settling into Canada, it is an authentic, evidence-informed approach to inclusive, equitable, and sustainable impact through sport, grounded in listening, learning, and placing the voices and experiences of newcomers at the centre of program decision-making.
The Sport for Newcomers program (S4N) is made possible through funding support from the Government of Canada. Sport Canada supports programs and services to advance the development of sport in Canada, impacting athletes and communities. A key objective is to support community sport initiatives for under-represented groups, in particular, Black, Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQI+, low-income people, persons with a disability, newcomers, and seniors to increase participation and retention in sport.
ABOUT COMMONWEALTH SPORT CANADA
Commonwealth Sport Canada (CSC) is the franchise holder for the Commonwealth Games and the Commonwealth sport movement in Canada. CSC supports Canada’s athletes to achieve excellence at Olympic and Paralympic Games and world championships and enriches the lives of youth across the Commonwealth and hosts international Commonwealth sport events. For additional information go to: www.commonwealthsport.ca .
For more information, please contact:
Patrick Kenny
Chief Communications Officer – Team Canada 2026
Email: [email protected]
613 724 7160
