The GNWT Endorses New Canadian Sport Policy to Advance Inclusive, Culturally Related Sport

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has endorsed the Canadian Sport Policy 2025–2035, a renewed nationwide framework that emphasizes inclusion, reconciliation, and neighborhood well-being via sport. This endorsement displays the GNWT’s dedication to constructing a sport system that’s secure, accessible, and culturally related for all residents of the Northwest Territories (NWT).

The Canadian Sport Policy (CSP) aligns intently with the NWT’s personal Active Living Framework 2023–2033, which promotes lifelong participation in sport and recreation, notably in distant and Indigenous communities. The CSP was developed via in depth engagement with over 5,000 Canadians and greater than 500 sport organizations, serving to to form a coverage that higher displays the varied wants and values of communities throughout the nation.

In the NWT, sport and recreation play an important position in selling well being, training, and social cohesion. The CSP helps this by prioritizing Indigenous management, equitable entry, and native capacity-building. It additionally highlights the significance of secure sport environments and celebrating athlete achievements.

From 2022 to 2026, NWT invested over $808,000 yearly in mixed funding ($414,430 GNWT and $393,570 Canada) in sport improvement initiatives. This consists of help for bodily literacy improvement, secure sport implementation, teaching and management coaching, and Team NT participation in nationwide and worldwide occasions such because the Arctic Winter Games and North American Indigenous Games.

Looking forward, the NWT will proceed to combine the CSP’s strategic priorities into future motion planning below the Active Living Framework. This alignment helps a sport system within the NWT that’s inclusive, values-driven, and attentive to the wants of all communities.

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“The CSP brings a renewed and inclusive vision to sport in the Northwest Territories, aligning closely with the territory’s own Active Living Framework. It emphasizes culturally relevant, community-driven sport and recreation, particularly supporting Indigenous leadership, reconciliation, and equitable access for remote and underserved communities. This policy helps build local capacity, celebrates northern sport champions, and promotes sport as a tool for health, education, and social cohesion.”
                     – Vince McKay, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs

Quick Facts

• Federal, Provincial, and Territorial (F-P/T) ministers chargeable for Sport, Physical Activity, and Recreation endorsed the Canadian Sport Policy (CSP) 2025–2035 on August 9, 2025.
• The coverage is grounded in values similar to inclusion, accessibility, equity, security, and community-building.
• The CSP and F-P/T Priorities for Collaborative Action will help the event of future bilateral funding agreements and sport improvement and participation applications.
• From 2022 to 2026, the NWT invested $808,000 yearly in mixed funding ($414,430 GNWT and $393,570 Canada) to help sport improvement, together with Indigenous sport programming via the Indigenous Sports Circle of the NWT.
• Additional one-time funding in 2024: $100,000 to help worldwide Team NT journey to the 2024 Arctic Winter Games in Mat-Su, Alaska
• The NWT Active Living Framework 2023–2033 offers a strategic method to recreation, sport, and bodily exercise throughout the territory.

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For media requests, please contact: 
Peter Tah
Senior Communications and Planning Advisor
Department of Municipal and Community Affairs 
Government of the Northwest Territories 
[email protected]
867-767-9162 ext. 21012