OTTAWA, ON (March 30, 2026) – Twenty-seven member clubs and provincial sport organizations from coast to coast to coast will deliver new and expanded paddling programs in their communities this year through Canoe Kayak Canada’s We Paddle program, supported by 2025-2026 funding from Sport Canada’s Community Sport for All Initiative (CSAI).
The funding will support locally delivered paddling programs designed to welcome new and returning participants to the sport while reducing barriers to participation. Programs will take place between April 1 and August 31, 2026, bringing paddling opportunities to communities across the country.
The Community Sport for All Initiative supports national-level organizations in creating accessible sport opportunities and prioritizes participation among equity-deserving and underrepresented groups, including Black, Indigenous and racialized communities, 2SLGBTQI+ individuals, persons with disabilities, low-income people, newcomers to Canada, and seniors.
Through the We Paddle program, participating organizations will deliver programming tailored to their local communities using frameworks and tools developed through previous CSAI initiatives as well as community-led approaches created by partner organizations.
We are thrilled that the following clubs from seven provinces and two territories will be recipients of this grant. The recipient clubs are:
Banook Canoe Club
Borealis Paddling Club
Burnaby Canoe & Kayak Club
Carleton Place Canoe Club
Cascades Club
CCE Paddling Club (Chilliwack Centre of Excellence Paddling Club)
Edmonton Whitewater Paddlers
Flatwater North Sprint Club
Fort Canoe & Kayak Club
Fort Smith Paddling Club
Greater Edmonton Racing Canoe & Kayak Club
Kimosom Pwatinahk Opimiskawak Club (KPOC)
Kistahpinanihk Paddling Club (KPC)
Maskwa Aquatic Club
Moose Jaw Canoe and Kayak Club (MJCKC)
Ottawa River Canoe Club
Rideau Canoe Club
Selkirk Canoe Kayak Centre
Club de Canotage de Shawinigan
Sudbury Canoe Club
Toba Canoe Club
United Albertan Paddling Society
Wai Nui O Kanaka Canoe Club
Wapawikoscikan Community Paddling Club (WCPC)
Wascana Racing Canoe Club
Wicihitowin Paddling Club (WPC)
Yorkton Canoe Kayak Club
Together, these organizations will introduce new paddlers to the water, expand adaptive and inclusive programming, and create welcoming entry points into paddling for participants who may not have previously had access to the sport.
“Through the We Paddle funding, clubs are leading the way in creating welcoming, community-based paddling experiences across the country,” said Kenna Robins, Director of National Program Development at Canoe Kayak Canada. “With support from Sport Canada through the Community Sport for All Initiative, these organizations are able to introduce paddling to new participants, reduce barriers to participation, and ensure that more people across Canada have the opportunity to experience our sport.”
Programs supported through the initiative may include introductory paddling experiences, adaptive paddling opportunities, and culturally relevant programming developed in collaboration with local communities.
“Through the Wascana We Paddle program, we introduced Indigenous and low-income inner-city youth in Regina to paddling who otherwise wouldn’t have had access,” said Bob Kary of Wascana Racing Canoe Club, a 2024 and 2026 funding recipient. “By partnering with community agencies, we reduced barriers like transportation, family communication, and supervision, enabling safe, consistent participation. Youth built foundational skills in canoe, kayak, and SUP in a supportive environment, with strong feedback and many expressing interest in continuing if opportunities remain.”
Canoe Kayak Canada will highlight participating clubs and the impact of their programming throughout the spring and summer as We Paddle initiatives take place across the country.
“The Government of Canada is proud to support inclusive, welcoming and accessible sport projects like this,” said The Honourable Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport). “I want to thank Canoe Kayak Canada and the many community organizations working to deliver programs that help people stay active while building confidence, resilience and meaningful social connections. Sport has the power to bring people together and strengthen communities. It’s inspiring to see initiatives that give young Canadians the chance to grow and succeed through sport. Efforts like these result in greater participation and build a stronger, healthier Canada.”
Sport Canada’s Community Sport for All Initiative includes a $15 million investment supporting national-level organizations in delivering more accessible sport programming nationwide.
For more information about the Community Sport for All Initiative, please visit the Sport Canada website.