Designations for Provincial and Disability Sport Organizations

viaSport works with provincial and disability sports to promote accountability, transparency and to positively impact the quality of amateur sport in BC. In turn, all Designated organizations have access to the following benefits to assist them in their endeavours to make sport better:

• viaSport application grants supporting programs that nurture the growth of athletes, coaches, and officials
• Sector engagements that facilitate cross-sport collaboration and viaSport guidance

• Education and training opportunities around leadership, governance, sport safety and other topics
• Mediation services for issues resolution
• Endorsement on the viaSport website
• Use of an annual viaSport Designation logo signaling publicly they are accountable for meeting high quality standards in sport delivery, organizational leadership and governance

Find out if your sport organization is eligible, and how to apply.

To enter the Designation Program, sports apply for Affiliated or Recognized status. Organizations are required to show documentation supporting the eligibility criteria, outlined here. Additional information and requirements can be found within the Designation Program Policy. Only one organization per sport, endorsed as the provincial governing body by the National Sport Organization, is eligible for inclusion in the Designation Program.

Combative Sports are also required to fall under the BC Athletic Commissioner Act. Designation by viaSport does not supersede this requirement. Approval of host events is at the sole discretion of the BC Athletic Commissioner.

The initial review of an application takes up to six weeks. Following this review, the organization will be contacted and invited to discuss the application and provide feedback.

Organizations meeting the criteria, as confirmed by viaSport, will be granted a Designation, pending approval from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport.

Applications must be submitted through the application form below.

Apply Now

Once a Designation is achieved, organizations* are expected to:

• Sign an Annual Agreement, accepting the responsibility to uphold the standards of the Designation
• Complete and submit annual reporting stipulated by viaSport
• Adhere to branding guidelines and display the appropriate viaSport Designated logo on their website
• Have board members and identified staff complete safe sport training, as defined by viaSport
• Participate in a deeper organizational Evaluation, at the discretion of viaSport

*All viaSport Designated Sport Organizations are governed by their own Board of Directors, uphold their own bylaws and policies, and have individuals, local sport clubs, or associations as members.