Building Canada strong from playground to podium -- Government of Canada invests in Ontario Sport

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Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

Sep 03, 2026, 10:30 ET

SCARBOROUGH, ON, Sept. 3, 2026 /CNW/ -- The Government of Canada is Building Canada Strong through sport. From playground to podium, we are investing in communities, supporting athletes and uniting Canadians, because sport is the ultimate nation builder.

Today, through the Build Communities Strong Fund, the Honourable Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport), and the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety and Member of Parliament for Scarborough--Guildwood--Rouge Park, announced a federal investment of more than $830,000 to upgrade the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario's (CSIO)'s training facilities at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (TPASC).

Canada's top athletes are a source of pride for our entire country and are our greatest ambassadors. Through the replacement and upgrading of key specialized equipment, this project will see Canadian athletes better supported throughout their training and in their pursuit of excellence.

These upgrades will support the needs of athletes with disabilities. Improvements to the flooring in the indoor running track and weightlifting areas will help ensure full accessibility for Paralympic athletes and individuals with diverse physical abilities. The project will also include an environmental chamber, dry sauna, aquatic therapy system, modular training equipment and expanded space for essential facilities.

Every time a Paralympic or Olympic athlete competes, they wear the maple leaf on their jersey, or the Canada name on their back – they represent us all. For many Canadian athletes, access to specialized training facilities and affordability are a challenge. We want to remove barriers and make sure they have the resources they need to excel in their sport, right here at home. As part of this project, the CSIO will conduct a national feasibility study to explore affordable housing options for athletes near major training centres like the TPASC and the CSIO.

Today's announcement builds on the Government of Canada's $1 billion investment to support Canadian athletes, strengthen sport infrastructure, increase participation and ensure Canada continues to host world-class sporting events. A country that comes together through sport is a country united.

Quotes

"Canada's top athletes are a source of pride for our entire country and are among our greatest ambassadors. The Government of Canada's investment in the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario will see Canadian athletes better supported at every step on their path to the podium. We are building Canada strong through sport, from playground to podium."

The Honourable Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport) and Member of Parliament for Burlington North--Milton West

"The Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre and Canadian Sport Institute Ontario are vital athletics resources, helping make Scarborough a hub of healthy, active lifestyles and a home of champions. Supporting renovations at CSIO demonstrates how we are building a stronger Canada by investing in our athletes."

The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety and Member of Parliament for Scarborough--Guildwood--Rouge Park

"We are incredibly grateful to the Government of Canada for this important investment through the Build Communities Strong Fund in support of our facility renovations. This funding will help us enhance the daily training environment for high-performance athletes and coaches across Ontario, ensuring they have access to the facilities, resources and tools they need to train, compete and perform at their best. Investing in the environments where athletes prepare is an investment in their pursuit of excellence and in the future of Canadian sport."

Debbie Low, Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Sport Institute Ontario

Quick Facts

  • The federal government is investing $837,338 in this project through the Direct Delivery stream of the Build Communities Strong Fund.
  • Starting in 2026-27, the Build Communities Strong Fund will deliver funding through three major streams:
    • A Provincial and Territorial stream, which provides $17.2 billion over 10 years, including $5 billion in health infrastructure funding over three years;
    • A Direct Delivery stream, which provides $6 billion over 10 years, including $1 billion over 4 years as part of a Local Impact Stream that is being delivered by Canada's Regional Development Agencies to support community infrastructure projects with local impact; and,
    • A Community stream (formerly the Canada Community-Building Fund), which provides $27.8 billion over 10 years and, indexed at 2% to deliver $3 billion per year ongoing.
  • The Build Communities Strong Fund will be a force multiplier in infrastructure – with funding that will be matched by nearly $17 billion from provinces, and additional billions leveraged through municipal and territorial partnerships as well as private capital. The fund will also boost Canada's GDP by $95 billion over the next decade. 
  • Under the Direct Delivery stream, at least 10% of the funding will go towards investments in Indigenous communities.
  • Project funding is subject to the signing of a contribution agreement between the Government of Canada and the recipient.

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SOURCE Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

Contacts: For more information (media only), please contact: Arianna Durgerian, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, [email protected]; Bahoz Dara Aziz, Director of Communications, Office of the Secretary of State (Sport), [email protected]; Oscar Rios, Canadian Sport Institute Ontario, [email protected]; Media Relations, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected]

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