The Next Play Mobilizes 65 New Organizations to Advance Girls’ Participation in Sports
Toronto, ON – Canadian Women & Sport is proud to announce that 65 Ontario sport, physical activity and recreation organizations have been selected to participate in the third iteration of The Next Play program, made possible by the Government of Ontario.
“Sport, physical activity, and recreation offers girls so much—from building confidence and leadership skills to improving physical and mental health. Our 2024 Rally Report shows that 4 in 10 girls are more interested than ever in being active, and it’s incumbent on sport leaders and their organizations to turn that interest into lasting participation. Programs such as The Next Play, supported by champions such as the Government of Ontario, offer vital support to sports in achieving these goals.”
Allison Sandmeyer-Graves, CEO of Canadian Women & Sport
The Next Play program empowers sport leaders with tools and resources to engage more girls and gender-diverse youth from diverse backgrounds in active recreation. Participating organizations will complete training to counter gender bias in program design and receive a grant to fund an initiative they will design during the program.
Over the last two years of the program, 288 sport leaders from 140 Ontario-based organizations engaged more than 6000 girls in community-based programming thanks to The Next Play.
Congratulations to the 65 organizations for their commitment to make a difference for girls and gender-diverse youth in sport and active recreation.
- 6Tigers Academy Incorporated
- Albion Neighbourhood Services BGC Albion Club
- Anishnawbe Mushkiki
- Argonaut Rowing Club
- Bakkers Trailblazers
- BGC Brantford
- BGC Hamilton-Halton
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of South-West Durham and Northumberland
- Brams United Soccer Club
- Canadian Basketball Alliance (Operating Name: Juel and/or Juel of Ontario)
- Change Through Sport
- City of Ottawa- Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services Department
- City of Ottawa Ringette Association
- City of Peterborough
- Community Resource Centre Killaloe Inc.
- Curve Lake Health Center
- Durham Blues Basketball
- Eagle Lake First Nation
- Eclipse Track & Field Club Inc.
- First Tee – Ontario (Golf Canada)
- Flamborough Dundas Soccer Club
- Forest Ringette Association
- Futbol Club Emery
- I Challenge Diabetes
- Jane/Finch Community Tennis Association
- Karate Ontario
- Kingston Baseball Association
- Kingston BMX Assocation
- KW Cycling Academy
- Lady Ballers Centre
- Lanark Highlands Youth Centre Inc.
- Lay-Up Youth Basketball
- Metcalfe and District Ringette Association
- Multicultural Association of Northwestern Ontario (MANWO) / Regional Multicultural Youth Council (RMYC)
- Muslim Women’s Summer Basketball League (MWSBL)
- Nepean BMX
- Niagara College/City of Welland – Welland Girls Sports Day
- NorWest Soccer London
- Off The Front Sports
- Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation Jordans Principle
- Ontario Blind Sports Association
- Ontario Tennis Association
- Ottawa City Soccer Club
- Peel Region Football
- Promoting Education and Community Health (PEACH)
- REgroupement Ethnoculturel des Parents Francophones de l’Ontario (REPFO)
- Row Ontario
- Royal York Baseball League
- Sarnia Rugby Club
- Scarborough Rugby Football Club
- Shak’s World Community Centre
- Sisters of Shred
- Six Nations of the Grand River
- Somali Community In Hamilton
- Special Olympics Ontario
- Squash Ontario
- The Corporation of the Town of Pelham – Summer Camp
- Thunder Bay Wolves Basketball
- Titans Volleyball Association
- Toronto Downtown Fastpitch League
- Toronto Muddy York RFC
- Toronto West Athletics Running Club
- Whitby Ringette Association
- Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor Inc. (WEST)
- YMCA of the National Capital Region
“Our government is proud to partner with Canadian Women & Sport to support community organizations across Ontario and expand opportunities for girls to get involved in sport and recreation. Together, we are working to break down barriers and ensure that every girl has the chance to thrive through sport, while opening doors to compete, coach, and lead,” shared Neil Lumsden, Ontario Minister of Sport
Interested in learning more about The Next Play? Sign up to receive updates.
This project has been made possible by the Government of Ontario.
