Ontario government backs grassroots initiatives aimed at increasing participation and retention among young female athletes
Funding to support nearly 3,500 girls through community-based sport and recreation programming
The Ontario government is investing $480,000 in Canadian Women & Sport’s The Next Play Program as part of a broader effort to expand access to affordable and inclusive sport opportunities for girls across the province.
The funding, announced Monday in Etobicoke by the Ministry of Sport, is expected to support nearly 3,500 girls and young women through community sport and recreation initiatives delivered by 65 organizations across 39 municipalities in the Greater Toronto Area, Central, Eastern and Northern Ontario.
The province said the initiative is designed to help community organizations develop girl-centred programming, improve coaching practices and remove barriers that often prevent girls from staying involved in sports.
“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,” said Neil Lumsden, Minister of Sport. “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.”
The Next Play Program provides participating organizations with training, grants and program design support aimed at improving recruitment and retention of girls in sport. Since launching in 2022, the initiative has partnered with 270 organizations and supported nearly 10,000 girls across Ontario.
Canadian Women & Sport CEO Allison Sandmeyer-Graves said the program is intended to create environments where girls feel welcomed and supported while developing confidence and leadership skills.
“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.”
Professional women’s sports growth seen as catalyst for participation
The announcement comes days before the inaugural season launch of the Toronto Tempo, Canada’s first WNBA franchise and the league’s first team outside the United States, set to begin May 8.
Provincial officials and sports leaders said the emergence of professional women’s sports teams in Ontario is helping inspire greater participation at the grassroots level.
“Our government is ensuring that young women and girls across Ontario have greater access to the life-changing benefits of sport. We are breaking down barriers, expanding opportunities, and building on the legacy of strong women role models in Ontario. Through targeted investments in programs like The Next Play and partnerships with Canadian Women & Sport, we are creating a real pathway to success so that every girl has the chance to compete, lead, and thrive.”
- Charmaine Williams
Associate Minister of Women’s Social & Economic Opportunity
Toronto Tempo President Teresa Resch said grassroots investments are essential to ensuring long-term growth in women’s sports.
“Investments like The Next Play matter because they ensure that professional opportunities don’t exist in isolation — they’re connected to strong, inclusive grassroots systems where girls first discover what’s possible. As Ontario prepares to welcome the Tempo this week as Canada’s first WNBA team and the first outside the US, it’s programs like this that make moments like ours meaningful. When girls can see role models at the highest level and feel supported in their own communities, sport becomes a place where they belong, grow, and lead.”
- Teresa Resch
President, Toronto Tempo
Community organizations highlight impact of funding
Several community organizations receiving support through The Next Play Program said the funding and training opportunities will strengthen their ability to deliver inclusive programming and improve access for underrepresented groups.
“Lay-Up is grateful to be a recipient of The Next Play funding which supports our mission to equip women and girls with the skills, confidence, and relationships they need to navigate real-world challenges. Through sport for development, we’re not only helping participants grow athletically, but preparing them for employment, wellbeing, and meaningful contribution in their communities.”
- Micaëlla Riché
Executive Director of Lay-Up
Organizations also pointed to the importance of mentorship, scholarships and culturally inclusive programming.
“We have participated in The Next Play for the last couple of years and the benefits have been twofold: for me as a newcomer to Canada, the community of practice sessions have been absolutely invaluable — connecting and brainstorming with other sport leaders facing similar challenges and working to make the world better, and also, the financial support has allowed us to elevate our programming for women across our spectrum of programs, especially our scholarships allowing women of colour and newcomers to achieve their dreams in sport.”
- Mahdi Ghararizadeh Mahani
Coach, 6Tigers Academy Inc.
Ontario said the investment forms part of its broader commitment to community recreation and physical activity. The province currently spends more than $23 million annually on inclusive sports programming, including the Inclusive Grassroots Recreation program, Ontario’s After School Program and Indigenous recreation initiatives.
The government is also investing $500 million through the Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund to modernize existing facilities and build new recreational spaces across Ontario.