Jumpstart Launches National Initiative to Build Community Soccer Pitches Across Canada
Community Soccer Pitches Canada Initiative Targets Youth Sport Access
TORONTO — Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities has announced a new multi-year initiative to build inclusive community soccer pitches across Canada as part of a broader effort to improve access to affordable youth sports.
The national program, unveiled Thursday, aims to construct 25 new community soccer pitches by 2029, with the first officially opening at Harbourfront Centre in downtown Toronto.
A second pitch is scheduled to open in Surrey, British Columbia on June 5, while additional projects are planned for Edmonton and Winnipeg. Jumpstart said up to eight pitches across six provinces are expected to open by the end of 2026.
Rising Costs Continue to Impact Youth Sport Participation
According to Jumpstart’s State of Youth Sport in Canada report, soccer is now the country’s most-played youth sport, with approximately half of Canadian youth participating in the game.
However, affordability remains one of the biggest barriers to participation, with nearly half of young people surveyed saying organized sport is too expensive.
“When kids have safe, welcoming places to play close to home, it can change their relationship with sport entirely,” said Marco Di Buono, President of Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities.
“These pitches are about much more than soccer. They’re about creating spaces where kids can build confidence, feel connected, and simply have the opportunity to play.”
Toronto Pitch Opens at Harbourfront Centre
The Toronto soccer pitch, now open at Harbourfront Centre, is designed to support both free play and community-based programming.
Jumpstart said the pitches are being developed in partnership with municipalities, local organizations, and community groups to ensure programming reflects local needs.
Organizations including Free Play for Kids will help support ongoing activation and community engagement at participating sites.
The initiative is also receiving federal support through Sport Canada, with the Government of Canada contributing more than $2.1 million toward the project.
Federal Government Supports Sport Infrastructure Expansion
Adam van Koeverden, Canada’s Secretary of State for Sport and FIFA Sherpa, said sport infrastructure investments help strengthen communities while improving opportunities for young people.
“Sport helps young people build confidence, friendships and a sense of belonging while bringing communities together,” van Koeverden said in a statement.
“This initiative will help remove barriers to participation and create spaces where the next generation can grow, thrive and dream big.”
Long-Term Investment in Community Access
The soccer pitch initiative represents one of Jumpstart’s largest infrastructure investments focused specifically on youth sport access.
The charity said the program aligns with its broader mission of reducing financial, physical, and systemic barriers to sport participation across Canada.
Since 2005, Jumpstart says it has helped create more than 4.5 million opportunities for Canadian children to participate in sport and recreation programs nationwide.
The organization currently works with more than 1,000 grantees and nearly 300 local chapters across Canada.
This article is based on information provided by Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities and has been prepared for publication by GTA Today.
GTA Today covers community, youth, and sports initiatives shaping neighbourhoods across the Greater Toronto Area and Canada.
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