Fact Sheet

Provincial government funding for sport is generally targeted to province-wide sport and multi-sport organizations. Provincial Sport Organizations (such as Basketball BC and Soccer BC), for example, are funded through system grants for participation and/or performance initiatives.

Community clubs that are members of Provincial Sport Organizations are supported through the services provided by those organizations programs such as overseeing provincial championships, training camps and clinics for coaches and athletes, providing sanctioning and insurance, and newsletters.

 

Funding for Individuals

The Sport Branch funds at the provincial level and does not provide funding directly to individual athletes/clubs & teams. Individuals should contact their provincial sport organizations to get information on programs and services offered by PSOs.

 

KidSport (a Sport BC program) provides assistance ($150 to $400 in grants) to families of children in need to help kids participate in local activities they otherwise could not afford to participate in. For information about how to apply, see the KidSport section of the Sport BC website (http://www.kidsportcanada.ca/index.php?page=british_columbia_welcome ). If your community does not have a local chapter, applications would go to the KidSport BC office (can be contacted through the website link noted).

 

Canadian Tire Jump Start – This funding is open to all youth aged 4-18 years. Grants will not exceed a maximum of $300 per application. Funds are awarded for registration fees and equipment. Funding should be for a sustained program that lasts a season for a minimum 1X/week for a minimum duration of 5 weeks. Applications for assistance can be submitted from January 15 to June 1 for spring/summer programs, and from July 1 to November 1 for fall/winter programs. http://jumpstart.canadiantire.ca/en/what-we-do#hta

 

Funding for Teams and Clubs

Community clubs seeking funding may be eligible for gaming revenues (for example, by running licensed events and/or direct access to gaming revenues). For more information or to apply go to the gaming website at http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/gaming/ Arts, culture and sport groups can apply during the annual sport group intake period Feb 1 – May 31.

 

Funding for Travel

Some types of travel are eligible uses of Direct Access to Gaming Program grants travel essential to the direct delivery of the program being funded by gaming grants and out-of-province travel (must be pre-approved by the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch) where a club or team member(s) are representing the province as a result of merit achieved through organized competition. http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/gaming/

 

Sport BC in conjunction with BC Ferries has developed the BC Ferries Sport Experience program to provide support to Sport BC member organizations and clubs traveling via BC Ferries. Athletes are eligible for travel assistance to selection camps, Provincial, Western Canadian, or National Championships, and coaches and officials for travel to recognized certification or professional development courses. Due to high demand for assistance, Sport BC recommends applicants apply well in advance of the scheduled event. For more information or an application form, please visit the website http://sportbc.com/membership-information/member-discount/bc-ferries/.

 

Community Program Support

BC Sport Agency has a number of programs that support community sport participation such as the Sport Participation Program, Local Sport Development Fund, and Aboriginal sport grants. For more information visit www.BCSportAgency.com

 

Recreation Program Support

The BC Recreation and Parks Association and the BC Healthy Living Alliance administer a number of community grants and/or provides resource material for physical activity programs such as Participaction’s SOGO (youth activity program), Everybody Gets to Play. Please visit www.bcrpa.bc.ca

 

Hosting BC

Hosting BC provides funding for international, national, provincial or regional level sport events. Organizers can apply for funding to for event operational expenses. Events must be sanctioned by the relevant National or Provincial Sport Organization and support the development of athletes. For details on the more information visit www.hostingbc.ca/resources

 

BC Fitness Tax Credit

The new Children’s Fitness Credit and the Children’s Arts Credit allows families to claim up to $500 in eligible expenses per child, per credit, per year for any eligible sports or arts programs. That means a family with three children can claim up to $1,500 a year, assuming each child is involved in a sports or arts programs outside the school system. When combined with the federal government’s Children’s Fitness Credit and the Children’s Arts Credit, families can receive up to $100 per child, per credit, per year off their tax payable.

 

Aboriginal Programs

The provincial government recently announced $1.5 million to the Aboriginal Sport, Recreation and Physical Activity Partners Council whose funds are to:

  • Offset equipment costs to increase Aboriginal youth participation in sports, recreation and physical activity (SRPA) programs
  • To develop and deliver SRPA programs identified within each of the six Regional Action Plans, as produced by the Aboriginal Sport Regional Committees

For more information, visit www.bcaafc.com/initiatives/asrpa-partners-council

 

Non-BC Government Funding

Communities and sport group can also consider funding available through other sources such as:

 

Funding for Capital Projects

Sport and recreation facilities are generally funded locally, primarily through user fees and local government taxes.

Capital projects up to $20,000 are eligible for gaming revenues. Sports can apply during the Sport Group application period (February to May). See www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/gaming

From time to time, sport and recreation facilities are eligible under a number of infrastructure programs administered by the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development and/or Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.  Please visit http://www.cscd.gov.bc.ca/lgd/infra/infrastructure_grants/index.htm or

http://www.gov.bc.ca/tran/

Federal infrastructure programs are generally administered by the Western Economic Diversification Canada office. Please visit http://www.wd.gc.ca/eng/11264.asp 

As availability of provincial and/or federal infrastructure funding grants are typically communicated to local governments (e.g. municipalities, regional districts), it is a good idea to contact your local government to see if these, or other funding programs are available.

 

Other Grant Information:

The CivicInfo Grant Database is an up to date and searchable database for local governments: http://www.civicinfo.bc.ca/18.asp

The Rural BC Secretariat also has a searchable database of public and private sector grants (for various projects including recreation and sport) at http://www.ruralbc.gov.bc.ca/

New Horizons for Seniors is a federal program that supports program and capital projects promoting seniors health: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/community_partnerships/seniors/index.shtml

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