Canadians love sport. We love to watch sports, do activities, volunteer at events, cheer on Team Canada, and talk about our favourite hobbies, athletes and players. When I chat with Canadians from Victoria to St. John’s to Whitehorse, they talk to me about how lessons learned from sport about teamwork, time management, and discipline have shaped their professional lives and careers. They talk about their lasting friendships. They talk about how sport helps keep them healthy, mentally and physically. But the most common thing that people tell me, is how crucial it is that their kids can participate in and benefit from sport.
Sport is also a powerful engine for economic growth, and a cornerstone of our national identity. In a year that has seen our economy, sovereignty, and identity threatened, Canadians have found common stories and built lasting memories through sport – whether it was by cheering on Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off or the Blue Jays World Series run.
When Victoria Mboko won the NB Open, we won. When Magdeleine Vallieres won the UCI Cycling World Championships, we won. When Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named the NBA’s MVP – every Canadian felt proud, double if you are from Hamilton.
Looking forward, 2026 might be even more exciting, I think it’s set to be Canada’s Year of Sport. It’s a year that has the potential to profoundly shape our country’s future on and off the field of play. 2026 has everything necessary for Canada to harness the power, potential and nation-building capacity that sport offers people, communities, and countries alike.
From the Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse to the Wheelchair Basketball World Championships in Ottawa, from the UCI Road Cycling World Championships on the streets of Montreal (and the dozens of other events celebrating the 50-year anniversary of Montreal’s 1976 Olympics), to the fervor of hosting the largest sporting event in the world with this summer’s FIFA Men’s World Cup – 2026 will be a massive year for sport in Canada.
Oh, and it’s a Winter Olympic and Paralympic year, with Team Canada headed to Milano-Cortina to make our favourite anthem play over and over. Sport will dominate the headlines and our collective attention in 2026.
This represents a strategic national opportunity to attract vital investment, to re-introduce ourselves to global markets, and to build a stronger, more vibrant future for all Canadians. Hosting sporting events on this scale is a vital investment in our shared prosperity.
Sport is one of our country’s major economic drivers. Annually, the sport sector generates more than $37 billion in economic activity and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs across Canada. Think about the local businesses, the tourism, the hospitality sector, the construction jobs, and the media coverage—the FIFA World Cup alone is projected to add $2 billion to Canada's GDP. These are significant figures; they are direct contributions to our national financial well-being. A world-class G7 economy must have a world-class sport system, one that serves all Canadians.
And a thriving sport system is a crucial part of the solution to so many complex issues, from mental health in the era of social media, to a changing job market for young people.
When we champion strong sport hosting strategies, our National Sport Organizations can attract crucial private investment, create opportunity, and fuel a thriving sport ecosystem. This benefits everyone – from kids in local leagues to our national teams and the growing industry of women's pro-sport. Every dollar we strategically invest in sport creates ripple effects: boosting economic activity, creating jobs, and strengthening communities. The health and resilience of young Canadians depend on active lifestyles and well-connected in-real-life social lives - sport delivers all of this and more.
That’s why, beyond just cheering on Team Canada, my mission is clear: we must lower the costs and barriers to sport and physical activity by creating programs that are designed to reach more Canadians. We must use sport to invest directly in the strength of Canadian families and young people. Access to play, engagement, membership, and a renewed appreciation for movement and teamwork must be our gold medal worthy ambition.
Our government is deeply committed to maintaining a transparent and ethical sport system that Canadians can trust. We have taken significant steps in this area and will continue to prioritize building a system that fosters confidence.
As we look ahead to 2026 and beyond, my vision is clear: a Canada where sport is central to our national identity, a key driver of economic growth, a force for nation-building and an endless source of pride and inspiration.
What else out there delivers so much for individuals and families, unites us culturally, and boosts our national economy, all at the same time?
We must continue to be bold, innovative, and strategic in how we champion sport. Now is the time to champion our communities. Now is the time to champion our people. Now is the time to champion Canada.
When the private and public sectors align to invest in sport, we are supporting our athletes, strengthening our communities, and building a stronger, healthier, and more prosperous Canada for generations to come. By owning the pond, pitch, pool, and playground, as well as the podium, Canadians will be more prepared for the challenges that lay ahead. They will be happier, healthier, more resilient, and more connected.
2026 is Canada's Year of Sport, and it is only just the beginning of a new era of Canadian health, strength, productivity, and prosperity.
The Honourable Adam van Koeverden is the Secretary of State for Sport, Canada’s FIFA Sherpa, MP for Burlington North—Milton West, and one of Canada’s most accomplished athletes, representing Canada at four Summer Olympics Games, winning a gold medal, two silver and one bronze.