Sport is more than a game. For a child, it means belonging. It means confidence, friendship, physical health, and a reason to show up every week. But for many newcomer and low-income families in Edmonton, the cost of registration fees, equipment, and transportation puts organized sport completely out of reach.
At PASS, we see this every day. Families who want the best for their children but are stretched too thin to cover a $300 hockey registration or a $150 soccer season. The good news? There are programs built specifically to change that. And PASS is here to help families access them.
Programs That Make Sport Possible
KidSport Edmonton: Every Kid Can Play
KidSport Edmonton is one of the most accessible sport funding programs available to Edmonton families right now. It provides grants of up to $350 per child per year to cover sport registration fees for kids 18 and under from low-income households.
The program operates in partnership with the Government of Alberta’s Every Kid Can Play initiative. a provincial commitment to ensure that financial barriers never stop a child from participating in sport.
To be eligible, families must meet low-income guidelines based on the federal Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO) scale. Acceptable documents include a Canada Child Benefit (CCB) notice or a City of Edmonton Leisure Access Program letter.
Applications are open year-round and can be submitted online. If your child needs equipment as well, KidSport partners with Sport Central, which provides free or low-cost gently used gear to eligible kids across Northern Alberta.
📋 Apply: kidsportcanada.ca/alberta/edmonton
Canadian Tire Jumpstart: Individual Child Grants
Jumpstart is another excellent option for families facing financial barriers. Their Individual Child Grant program is open for 2026 and covers registration fees for children aged 4 to 18 in organized sport or physical activity programs.
To qualify, the program must run for a minimum of five weeks with at least one session per week. Eligibility is based on Revenue Canada’s Low-Income Cut-Off chart.
📋 Apply: jumpstart.canadiantire.ca
Alberta’s Sport Participation Support Program (SPSP)
At the organizational level, Alberta’s Sport Participation Support Program provides grants of $30,000 to $80,000 to non-profit organizations that develop and operate programs increasing sport opportunities for under-represented populations, including new Canadians, children from economically disadvantaged families, girls and women, Indigenous youth, and persons with a disability.
This program is funded jointly by the Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta. Applications are currently closed but are expected to re-open in 2026. PASS is actively exploring opportunities to deliver programming aligned with this grant.
Why This Matters for Newcomer Families
Many newcomer families in Edmonton are not aware these programs exist. Language barriers, unfamiliarity with Canadian systems, and lack of information in their first language mean that eligible children miss out, not because the funding isn’t there, but because no one helped them find it.
That is the gap PASS is positioned to close.
Our team works directly with newcomer families, and we understand what it takes to navigate these systems; from filling out applications in a second language, to gathering the right financial documents, to finding a sport program that fits a child’s interests and schedule.
If you have a child who wants to play, we can help you get there.
How PASS Can Help
PASS provides hands-on support to families looking to access sport funding programs, including:
- Helping identify the right program based on your child’s age, interests, and eligibility
- Assisting with application forms for KidSport and Jumpstart
- Connecting families with Sport Central for equipment needs
- Providing information in multiple languages where possible
Whether your child wants to try soccer, swimming, basketball, skating, or martial arts, these programs can make it happen.
Get in Touch
If you are a newcomer family in Edmonton and want help accessing sport programs for your child, reach out to PASS today. No child should sit on the sidelines because of cost.
📧 info@passcanada.org 🌐 www.passcanada.org 📍 9424 – 111 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB 📞 587-489-6428
PASS — Prairie Alliance for Settlement & Support — is a non-profit organization dedicated to the settlement, integration, and well-being of newcomers and vulnerable communities in Edmonton, Alberta.
