Based on the 2024 Physical Activity and Sport Survey, by Leger with the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (CFLRI), the most frequented locations to be active in the community are those related to active transportation (such as sidewalks, side of the road, in the neighbourhood, walking trails or paths). Table 1 outlines the most commonly cited places where Canadians go to be physically active.
Table 1: Places and settings within the community where Canadians go to be active
| Places and Settings within the community | % |
| Sidewalks, side of road, in the neighbourhood | 46% |
| Walking trails or paths | 44% |
| Community parks | 23% |
| Municipal, public recreation or multi-purpose facilities | 19% |
| Other natural environment, green spaces, waterways | 18% |
| Commercial gyms or fitness centres | 17% |
| Home environment | 7% |
| YMCA or YWCA | 7% |
| Sports clubs | 6% |
| Workplace | 6% |
| Educational institutions (e.g., elementary to post-secondary schools) | 5% |
| Church or other places of worship | 2% |
Source: 2024 Physical Activity and Sport Survey, Leger with CFLRI
Men and women differed with regards to the places and settings where they were most active in their communities. Generally, women were more likely than men to report being active in an outdoor setting, whereas men were more likely to say they were active indoors.
A number of gender differences in relation to preferred locations for sport, physical activity, and recreation have been identified. For example, a greater percentage of men reported being active in indoor settings, including: municipal or multi-purpose facilities, the YMCA/YWCA, educational institutions, sports clubs, and at work. More women, however, said that they were active in the community at locations most associated with active transportation, including on sidewalks, roadways, or in the neighborhood, on walking trails or paths, and in other natural environments, green spaces or waterways. Moreover, more women than men reported home as a preferred location. There were no significant gender differences in the percentage who reported other types of locations.
Figure 1: Location of physical activity by gender
Source: 2024 Physical Activity and Sport Survey, Leger with CFLRI
Preferences for certain locations when being active varied considerably by age.
When asked to indicate which locations were most frequented when engaging in sport, physical activity, and recreation in the community, a greater percentage of young adults (aged 18 to 24 years) were active at a commercial gym or fitness centre, the YMCA/YWCA, educational institution, or at a sport club compared to older adults. Similarly, adults aged 25 to 44 years were also more likely than adults aged 65 years or older to say they were active in community parks. Adults aged 45 to 64 years, however, were most likely to have been active by using walking trails or paths or other natural environments, greenspaces or waterways, compared to younger adults. Compared to younger Canadians, a greater percentage of older adults said that they participated at home or used sidewalks, roadways, but fewer said that they were active at work.
Figure 2: Location of physical activity by age
Source: 2024 Physical Activity and Sport Survey, Leger with CFLRI
Where Canadians chose to be active was associated with physical abilities and whether or not they participate in sport.
Canadians who identify as having a disability differed in their location preferences for physical activity compared to those who did not have a disability. Specifically, a greater percentage of adults with a disability used facilities such as the YMCA/YWCA or a church/place of worship to participate in physical activity compared to adults without a disability. A greater percentage of adults not reporting a disability, however, used municipal or multi-purpose facilities, commercial gyms or fitness centres, or walking trails or paths. There were no other significant differences in preferred location by disability status.
As one would expect, the number of preferred locations to be active that were conducive to sport was higher among those who participated in sport, whereas non-participants were more likely to report either home or more active transport-related locations. Sport participants were most likely to have reported the use of municipal or multi-purpose facilities, YMCAs/YWCAs, commercial gyms or fitness centres, educational institutions, and sports clubs compared to non-participants. A greater percentage of non-participants, however, were active at home, on sidewalks, roadways or in the neighbourhood, or on walking trails and paths compared to sport participants. There were no other significant differences in location by sport participation.
Figure 3: Location of physical activity by sport participation
Source: 2024 Physical Activity and Sport Survey, Leger with CFLRI
Where Canadians choose to be active differed by certain socio-economic characteristics, such as educational level and household income.
A greater percentage of Canadian adults with a university degree used municipal or multi-purpose facilities, commercial gyms or fitness centres, educational institutions, and sports clubs to be active compared to adults with lower levels of education. Similarly, relatively more adults with a post-secondary education used community parks, walking trails and paths, and other natural environments, green spaces, and waterways compared to adults with a high school level education.
Location preferences for sport, physical activity, and recreation also varied by household income level. A higher percentage of adults living in the highest income households (>$100,000/year) reported using municipal or multi-purpose facilities, commercial gyms or fitness centres, walking trails or paths, and sports clubs compared to those living in households with the lowest income levels.
Figure 4: Location of physical activity by education level
Source: 2024 Physical Activity and Sport Survey, Leger with CFLRI
Geographical differences in the choice of settings for physical activity were apparent. Where Canadians choose to be active varied based on location (e.g., rural vs. urban), community size and region.
A smaller percentage of Canadians living in rural environments reported being active at YMCAs/YWCAs, commercial gyms or fitness centres, educational institutions, or community parks compared to adults living in suburban or urban communities. Canadians living rurally were also less likely than those from urban areas to report using sport clubs. In contrast, a greater percentage of adults from rural communities used other natural environments, green spaces or waterways for physical activity compared to those living in urban communities. There were no other significant differences in location of physical activity by location of residence.
Fewer Canadians living in the smallest communities (less than 10,000 residents) compared those in larger communities (10,000 residents or more) reportedly used the following settings to be active: YMCAs/YWCAs, commercial gyms and fitness centres, and community parks. Relatively fewer residents living in the smallest communities reported using sports clubs compared to those living in the largest (100,000 residents or more), whereas relatively more of these small community residents were active in natural environments, green spaces and waterways compared to those living in larger communities.
When considering regional differences, this survey found that relatively fewer Canadians living in Quebec said they used YMCAs/YWCAs, walking trails and paths, and community parks for physical activity or sport compared to Canadians overall, whereas relatively more were active in the home environment. Compared to the average, a higher percentage of Albertans used YMCAs/YWCAs, and walking trails and paths, whereas relatively fewer said they used commercial gyms or fitness centres. Compared to the national average, a greater percentage of individuals living in British Columbia chose outdoor settings to be active such as walking trails and paths, community parks and other natural environments, however, relatively fewer indicated they participated at home. Adults living in Ontario were also more likely than the average to have used community parks to be active, whereas fewer residents in New Brunswick reported this. With regards to municipal or multi-purpose facilities, fewer residents in Nova Scotia and Manitoba reported using these facilities compared to the average.
Figure 5: Location of physical activity by region*
Source: 2024 Physical Activity and Sport Survey, Leger with CFLRI
*PE, YK, NT, NU not available due to sample size
Location of birth was associated with location of physical activity and sport.
A greater percentage of individuals who were born in Canada indicated that they used sidewalks, roadways and other places in the neighbourhood to be active, whereas individuals who were born elsewhere were more likely to report the use of YMCAs/YWCAs, commercial gyms or fitness centres, educational institutions, community parks, and sports clubs when active. Compared to adults who have lived in the country under five years, relatively fewer who have lived in the country for ten years or more reported being active at commercial gyms or fitness centres, and relatively fewer who have lived in the country for at least fifteen years reported the use of sport clubs. Conversely, relatively fewer individuals who have lived in the country for under five years reported the use of sidewalks, roadways and other areas in the neighbourhood, or natural environmental spaces, greenspaces, or waterways compared those who have lived in the country from more than fifteen years.
Production of this summary has been made possible through a financial contribution from the Government of Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent their views.
