Ottawa, Canada — The Inclusion in Canadian Sports Network (ICSN) welcomes the release of the Final Report of the Future of Sport in Canada Commission, a landmark national review examining systemic challenges in Canadian sport and proposing recommendations to create safer, more accessible, and more inclusive sport environments.
The Commission was established by the Government of Canada in 2023 following widespread reports of systemic maltreatment, abuse, and governance failures across the sport system. Its Preliminary Report released in August 2025 outlined 71 recommendations aimed at strengthening athlete safety, closing jurisdictional gaps, and modernizing sport governance across the country.
The Final Report, published today, expands on these findings and calls for structural changes to ensure the Canadian sport system prioritizes safety, accessibility, equity, and accountability.
Importantly, ICSN is recognized within the report as one of the organizations advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in Canadian sport (Chapter 7, p. 268).
For ICSN, this recognition reflects a growing consensus across the sport ecosystem:
Equity, inclusion, and safe environments are not optional—they are foundational to the future of sport in Canada.
Key Findings from the Commission
The Commission’s final report identifies several systemic issues that continue to limit access, safety, and trust within Canadian sport.
1. Barriers to participation remain widespread (Chapter 7, p.242)
The report confirms that participation in sport is declining and that equity-deserving groups continue to face systemic barriers, including financial costs, discrimination, and lack of inclusive environments.
Groups facing disproportionate barriers include:
- Women and girls
- Indigenous communities
- Racialized populations
- Persons with disabilities
- 2SLGBTQI+ individuals
- Newcomers to Canada
The report emphasizes that sport participation in Canada is not equally accessible, despite longstanding national commitments to inclusion.
2. Racism and discrimination persist across sport environments (Chapter 3, p.131; Chapter 7, p.268)
The Commission heard extensive testimony from athletes and participants describing racism, discrimination, and exclusion within sport settings.
Racialized athletes reported:
- Experiencing racist remarks and microaggressions
- Being tokenized or overlooked for leadership roles
- Lack of representation in coaching and governance
The report highlights the importance of anti-racism education, representation in leadership, and systemic policy reform to address these issues.
It also recognizes initiatives such as the Play Fair: Anti-Racism in Sport Toolkit, developed with the support of organizations including ICSN, as important resources for advancing anti-racism education within sport.
3. Safe sport must go beyond preventing abuse (Chapter 8, p.278)
The Commission stresses that safe sport cannot be limited to preventing abuse or misconduct.
A truly safe sport environment must also ensure:
- Inclusion and belonging
- Cultural safety for Indigenous participants
- Respect and dignity for all athletes
- Equitable access to opportunities
Participants emphasized that safety is closely linked to trust, representation, and systemic accountability within sport organizations.
The report also notes that maltreatment in sport has long-term psychological and social impacts on athletes and undermines public trust in sport institutions.
4. Indigenous sport systems require recognition and support (Chapter 6, p. 214)
The report also highlights the importance of Indigenous-led sport systems, acknowledging that sport plays a critical cultural, social, and healing role within Indigenous communities.
Indigenous participants identified ongoing barriers including:
- Lack of culturally safe environments
- Racism in mainstream sport structures
- Limited facilities and infrastructure
- Underrepresentation of Indigenous athletes and leaders
The Commission calls for stronger collaboration with Indigenous communities and respect for Indigenous self-determination in sport governance.
Why this report matters
The Commission’s findings reinforce a central message:
The future of Canadian sport depends on equity, safety, and inclusion.
For ICSN, this report represents a significant moment of validation.
ICSN was founded to address the very issues identified by the Commission — including systemic barriers, lack of representation, and the need for stronger anti-racism initiatives in sport.
Through programs an initiatives such as:
- The Diversity in Sport Conference (DISC)
- Black Leaders in Sports Day (BLSD)
- Breaking Barriers Swimming program
- Building Bridges program
- Emerging BIPOC Leaders program
- And more
In addition to its programs and convenings, ICSN has developed a Resource Hub that brings together curated ICSN and community resources to support inclusive, safe, and equitable sport environments.
Available at: https://inclusionincanadiansports.ca/resources-hub/
The growing hub includes materials such as research reports, policy briefs, practical guides, and educational tools designed to support sport leaders, organizations, and communities working to advance equity in sport. Resources are organized into accessible categories covering topics such as anti-racism in sport, inclusive leadership and governance, safe sport practices, and community engagement.
ICSN continues to work with athletes, sport organizations, and policymakers to help build a sport system that is inclusive, equitable, and accessible for all Canadians.
Call to action
ICSN encourages sport leaders, policymakers, researchers, and community organizations to read the Future of Sport in Canada Commission Final Report and engage with its recommendations.
Systemic change in sport requires collective action across all levels of the sport system.
The report is available here.
