viaSport © JLSPHOTOGRAPHY.CA
In British Columbia, there’s more to sport than physical fitness. Sport is a vital part of the province’s social fabric. Whether it’s kids playing soccer at the local park, athletes training for the podium, or fans cheering from the stands, sport unites communities, supports physical and mental well-being, and acts as a powerful force for positive change. And like in sport, teamwork is a crucial part of making that happen, which means each of us has a role to play, regardless of the game.
viaSport is a not-for-profit organization that has been leading the development and growth of amateur sport in BC since its creation in 2011. Supported by the provincial government, viaSport champions a vision where all British Columbians can participate in sport and have safe, inclusive, and welcoming experiences.
Sport as a Force For Good
Sport has power: on top of being fun, it brings people together, supports reconciliation with Indigenous communities, and advances diversity and inclusion. It brings out national pride, fostering community togetherness. Volunteers and participants benefit from the teamwork, collaboration, and social integration that sport brings out naturally. Sport contributes to a diversified economy, providing jobs and stimulating local businesses and tourism through community-based and high-performance sporting events, creating a sense of community pride.
Empowering communities to support sport means more benefits for all. Many British Columbians, especially those from marginalized communities, would benefit from more opportunities to participate in sport. Removing barriers to entry makes sport more accessible for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
viaSport helps leverage sport as a catalyst for social development and economic growth, especially for equity-deserving communities. Sport is a powerful tool for healthier living, lifelong learning, community building, and, most importantly, fun! viaSport knows that with the right kind of support, like through age and stage-appropriate coach development, sport gets better.
Strengthening’s BC’s Sport Community
viaSport collaborates with their network of over 70 provincial, disability, and multi-sport organizations to develop an amateur sport system that prioritizes inclusion, noting that barriers to entry can ward off would-be participants. Their Designation Program ensures that these organizations maintain high standards in participation, coaching, officiating, excellence, and governance—four foundational pillars of effective sport delivery.
Importantly, viaSport understands that supporting Designated Sports to create programs isn’t enough—that’s why their approach includes aspects like sport development and coach education, so that athletes and coaches at all levels receive the training and mentorship they need to succeed. To ensure that everyone feels respected and protected while they play, viaSport has created PlaySafebc.ca and leads other sport safety initiatives in BC. viaSport works across industries and sectors to help build capacity through partnerships and grant programs to set communities on a path to long-term growth.
And this approach has been working—since 2013, viaSport has trained over 21,000 coaches and engaged more than 100 partner organizations in collaboration for sport advancement. On top of that, they’ve secured $152 million in annual funding distributed to designated sport organizations.
Inclusion? Check. Collaboration? Check. Economic and social impact? Double check. All that’s missing is you! Whether you’re an athlete, coach, parent, or fan, there’s a place for you in BC’s sports community, and viaSport is here to help you find it.
To learn more, get involved, or partner with us, visit viasport.ca/make-sport-better
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Created as a legacy of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, viaSport acts as the Province’s lead agency to steward the growth and development of amateur sport in BC.