Funding Expected to Support More Than 37,000 Children and Youth Across Ontario
OAKVILLE, Ont. — August 24, 2026 — The Ontario government is investing $1.59 million in Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities to expand access to sport and recreation programs for more than 37,000 children and youth across the province, with a focus on families facing financial, accessibility and other barriers to participation.
The funding is being provided through Ontario’s Inclusive Grassroots Recreation (IGR) program and will support community-based initiatives designed to make physical activity more accessible and affordable. The province said the investment is part of a broader effort to strengthen communities and increase opportunities for young people to participate in organized recreation.
“Our government is delivering on our plan to protect Ontario by investing in opportunities that help children and youth succeed,” said Natalie Pierre, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Sport. “Sport and recreation help young people build confidence, develop leadership skills, make lasting friendships and live healthier lives. By working with Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, we’re making it easier for families to access these opportunities while building stronger communities across our province.”
Jumpstart Funding Targets Barriers to Participation
Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities works with community organizations in Ontario and across Canada to provide children and youth with equitable access to sport and recreation. Its programs are aimed particularly at participants who encounter financial, accessibility or other obstacles that can prevent them from joining organized activities.
During 2024-25, Ontario provided $1.51 million through Jumpstart’s Community Development Grants program. That funding supported 154 grants to community organizations in the province and generated more than 1.02 million hours of play for over 27,000 children and youth from underserved populations.
The latest $1.59-million commitment represents an increase from that previous provincial investment and is expected to reach more than 37,000 young people.
“We are grateful to the Ontario government for its continued support, which will help Jumpstart and community organizations create more opportunities for children and youth to access sport and recreation close to home,” said Marco Di Buono, President, Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities. “Through our Community Development Grants, we invest in local organizations that understand the needs of their communities and can deliver accessible, inclusive programming. Together, we are helping more kids across Ontario experience the lifelong benefits that come through sport and play.”
Local Organizations Use Grants to Expand Programming
Community organizations receiving Jumpstart support can use funding to address practical barriers that affect participation, including program registration, access to facilities, equipment and programming capacity.
Halton Black Voices said Jumpstart funding helped its Deep Roots basketball initiative provide programming to Black youth in the Halton region without charging participating families.
“Halton Black Voices launched Deep Roots to close a specific gap: Black youth in Halton face real cost, transportation, and representation barriers to organized sport. Jumpstart’s support allowed us to remove those barriers — covering registration and gym access, providing equipment, and delivering a full season of basketball programming to youth across the region at no cost to families. The impact extends beyond participation. This funding strengthened the infrastructure behind the program, from consistent gym time to coaching capacity, which means Deep Roots continues past this grant cycle. For the young people in it, that consistency matters as much as the game itself. ”
- Braxton Dinh-Wignall
Director of Community & Programs, Halton Black Voices
Ontario Expands Investment in Community Recreation
The Inclusive Grassroots Recreation program has helped approximately 150,000 children and youth participate in community sport and recreation programming since its launch in 2021-22.
Ontario currently invests more than $23 million annually in local and inclusive physical activity programming. Programs receiving provincial support include the After School Program, Inclusive Grassroots Recreation program, Community Aboriginal Recreation Activator program, Sport Pathway for Ontario Native Wellness, Youth Cultural Camps program and Variety Village.
The province is also investing $500 million through its Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund. That initiative is intended to revitalize existing recreational facilities and support construction of new spaces across Ontario.
For the government, the latest Jumpstart investment forms part of a wider strategy to increase participation in physical activity while supporting community organizations that deliver programs locally. By directing funding toward organizations already working with children and families, the province aims to reduce barriers to participation while building opportunities for young people to remain active over the long term.