BC Sport Participation Program: Provincial Sport Development Fund

The BC Sport Participation Program (BCSPP) Provincial Sport Development Fund is a sport participation program which is supported through bilateral contributions from the Province of BC and the Government of Canada and administered through viaSport British Columbia. The BCSPP supports programs that attract children, youth, Indigenous and under-represented populations to lead active and healthy lifestyles through involvement in sport while also helping to support communities delivering physical activity programming throughout the province. Programs taking place between July 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025 are eligible to apply.

What programs are eligible?

The goal of the BCSPP is to support programming and/or partnerships throughout the province that increases sport participation by introducing sport to new participants, teaching physical literacy and fundamental sport skills and/or reducing barriers to those populations that are under-represented in sport.

Funded programs must align with Canadian Sport for Life FUNdamental, Learn to Train, and Active for Life stages, as well as the Awareness or First Contact stages. Programs will develop linkages with local sport service providers, clubs, and schools, to build community capacity and expand programming to attract new participants to sport and increase the number of individuals actively involved in organized sport on an ongoing basis.

Who can apply?

Applications can only be submitted, individually or in partnership, by registered not-for-profit societies that are:

• A viaSport Designated Sport Organization (i.e., accredited, recognized, or affiliated)
• Organizations that demonstrate the ability to successfully reach a significant target group and service a significant geographic region(s) or are provincial in their orientation (i.e. Boys and Girls Club, Scouts, Big Brothers/Sisters, etc.) 
• Organizations with demonstrated success serving equity-seeking groups. (i.e., women and girls, persons with disabilities, LGBTQI2S community members, marginalized youth, Indigenous persons, socio-economically disadvantaged, and/or newcomers to Canada.)

For more information on viaSport’s Designation Sport Program please visit: https://viasport.ca/accredited-recognized-affiliated-sports-in-bc/

Grant Statistics

The Provincial Sport Program Development has an annual budget of $400,000 awarded in a single intake. Approximately 40 applications per intake are reviewed, with the average funding request being $27,500, while the average awarded amount is $18,000. Funds are awarded to approximately 15 applications per intake, resulting in an expected success rate of approximately 35%.