OTTAWA, CANADA (April 2, 2026) — The Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (CFLRI) welcomes the release of the Final Report of the Future of Sport in Canada Commission and commends the Commission for its comprehensive and forward-looking analysis of the sport, physical activity, and recreation landscape.
The report underscores the critical importance of evidence-based and inclusive policy development, particularly the need for stronger, more coordinated data systems to support decision-making across participation, infrastructure, funding, and well-being. CFLRI strongly supports this direction.
For over four decades, CFLRI has led and contributed significantly to this national evidence base through sustained, population-level and system-level data collection on sport participation, physical activity, and recreation. Since 1980, CFLRI has developed and maintained longitudinal datasets and national benchmarking and monitoring that inform federal, provincial, territorial, and community decision-making.
CFLRI’s work includes quantitative and qualitative population-based studies, as well as system-focused surveys of key settings such as municipalities, workplaces, schools, and sport and recreation organizations. Together, these efforts have generated consistent trend data on participation, disparities, behaviours, and enabling environments, as well as the broader impacts of sport, physical activity, and recreation.
The Commission’s report identifies important gaps in the coordination and integration of data across the sector. CFLRI agrees that strengthening alignment, accessibility, and system-wide integration is a critical next step.
“Canada has a strong foundation of data and expertise in this space,” said Dr. Milena M. Parent, Board Member of CFLRI and Full Professor of Sport Management at the University of Ottawa. “The opportunity now is to better connect and leverage existing systems to support more coherent, efficient, and impactful decision-making.”
CFLRI remains committed to working collaboratively with governments and sector partners to enhance coordination, reduce duplication, and improve the accessibility and usability of data across Canada.
At a time when Canada is seeking to increase participation, address inequities, and improve well-being outcomes, a coordinated and integrated data ecosystem will be essential.
CFLRI stands ready to contribute its expertise to the next phase of this work.
