Newcomers to Canada
Canada warmly welcomes immigrants, refugees, and permanent residents from around the world. Explore the positive impact of involving newcomers in sport and discover strategies for their effective inclusion.
Search Newcomer Resources
Top 10 resources
- SCRI Driving Change Spotlight: Inclusive Sport & Newcomer Children
- SIRC Article: How to foster inclusive physical activity for immigrants in Canada
- SIRCuit Article: Creating welcoming, equitable spaces for new Canadians in sport
- Engaging Newcomers to Canada in Physical Activity Programming: Research Report
- Welcome to Canada: Engaging New to Canada Participants in Sport and Physical Activity
- Sport for Life for Every New to Canada Participant – Creating Inclusion of New to Canada Participants in Sport and Physical Activity
- Implementation Guide for Integration of Refugees Through Sport
- Engaging Newcomer Girls & Women – Physical Activity & Sport Handbook
- Newcomer Sport for Life Program: Creating Sport Opportunities for Newcomer Children and Youth
- Winnipeg Newcomer Sport Academy
Featured resource
Nordplus, Erasmus+, and Integration of Refugees Through Sport
Featured resource
Canadian Women & Sport and MLSE LaunchPad
Quick Facts
Who are considered newcomers to Canada?
The term “newcomer” broadly refers to individuals who have recently arrived in a new country and includes permanent residents, refugees, and temporary residents. Comparatively, a new citizen refers to someone who has recently gained citizenship in Canada.
What are some of the benefits of physical activity and sport for newcomers?
Newcomers often face several barriers that contribute to lower participation in physical activity and sports. These barriers include financial constraints, unfamiliarity with the local sports culture, and language and communication challenges. To address these issues, some effective solutions have been identified, such as offering free or subsidized programs, organizing workshops to educate newcomers about available sports opportunities, and providing interpreters during activities, games, and programs to facilitate communication.
Why is physical activity and sport participation lower among newcomers?
Newcomers often face several barriers that contribute to lower participation in physical activity and sports. These barriers include financial constraints, unfamiliarity with the local sports culture, and language and communication challenges. To address these issues, some effective solutions have been identified, such as offering free or subsidized programs, organizing workshops to educate newcomers about available sports opportunities, and providing interpreters during activities, games, and programs to facilitate communication.
How can newcomers get involved in physical activity and sport in Canada?
Newcomers can engage in physical activity and sports through various pathways, including community programs, school and university initiatives, and cultural associations or clubs. By exploring these opportunities, newcomers can discover inclusive environments that not only encourage participation but also support their integration into new communities while promoting a healthy and active lifestyle.
How can sport leaders make sport more accessible for newcomers?
Sport leaders need to let newcomers contribute to the planning and voice their interests about the programs. Another key piece is to remember that newcomers are coming from countries all across the world and bring with them their culture. Being mindful of cultural and religious backgrounds is crucial so that they feel welcome. Another way to encourage participation is to show that newcomers are woven into the program; by showing them in leadership positions or on promotional materials, participants can see someone who looks like them. And finally, one of the way to include newcomers is to include the entire family. Make sure that everyone from children to grandparents are welcome in your program. Other examples include making programs accessible by reducing entry fees, providing transportation, etc..
Video Resources
Playing together — New citizens, Sports & Belonging Webinar
- Sport Matters Group, SIRC, and Institute for Canadian Citizenship
- 2014
SCRI Driving Change Spotlight: Inclusive Sport & Newcomer Children
- Winnipeg Newcomer Sport Academy and SIRC
- 2021
5B – Immigration, integration, and intersectoral partnership
- Cape Breton University and SIRC
- 2022
4B – Advancing Safe Sport Through Occupational Health and Safety
- Laurentian University and SIRC
- 2022
SCRI Research Plenary: Lloyd Wong
- University of Calgary, Queen’s University, and SIRC
- 2023
Room 5– Identity & Culture in Canadian Hockey | Salle 5– Identité et culture dans le hockey canadien
- St. Thomas University, Brock University, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Queen’s University, University of Calgary, and SIRC
- 2021
Knowledge Nuggets
knowledge nuggets
Integration of refugees in sport
Sport can provide refugees opportunities to make social connections. To successfully integrate refugees into sport, sport organizations need an active approach needs by managers, coaches
Sport can provide refugees opportunities to make social connections. To successfully integrate refugees into sport, sport organizations need an active approach needs by managers, coaches and volunteers. A positive and welcoming environment, an inclusive narrative, and making the club feel safe and fun are other factors that can contribute to success.
knowledge nuggets
Newcomers and sport participation
Newcomers to Canada often struggle with feeling like they belong. Sport and physical activity can help foster feelings of belongingness, bringing Canadians of all backgrounds
Newcomers to Canada often struggle with feeling like they belong. Sport and physical activity can help foster feelings of belongingness, bringing Canadians of all backgrounds together. Providing newcomers with resources on how to become involved in sport and physical activity at all levels is essential to ensure all sport is inclusive. Sport for Life has a guide for sport organizations to foster supportive environments for newcomers.
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World Humanitarian Day
People across the world live in areas affected by natural disasters, conflict and persecution. Sport can be used as a positive tool in these areas
People across the world live in areas affected by natural disasters, conflict and persecution. Sport can be used as a positive tool in these areas to promote positive change and give individuals the opportunity to be included in something meaningful. Through their Sport for Protection approach, the UN Refugee Agency uses sport for children and youth to develop life skills and capacities through meaningful engagement with positive role models.
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Welcoming newcomers to Canadian sport
Research shows that new immigrants to Canada who participate in sport and physical activity increase their social networks, improve their health, and better integrate themselves
Research shows that new immigrants to Canada who participate in sport and physical activity increase their social networks, improve their health, and better integrate themselves into Canadian society. These findings highlight the importance of critically evaluating ‘Intro to Sport’ programs and their effectiveness in welcoming newcomers to Canadian sport.
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Supporting refugees in sport
Canadian soccer superstar Alphonso Davies, who plays for FC Bayern Munich and Team Canada, arrived in Canada as a refugee when he was 5 years
Canadian soccer superstar Alphonso Davies, who plays for FC Bayern Munich and Team Canada, arrived in Canada as a refugee when he was 5 years old. “Refugees need our support to survive, but also access to education and sports, so they can fulfil their potential and truly thrive,” says Davies, who was appointed as a Global Goodwill Ambassador in 2021.
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Sport for newcomers
Sport participation can help welcome newcomers to their new country. Sport administrators can create more inclusive and welcoming programs by involving newcomers in program planning
Sport participation can help welcome newcomers to their new country. Sport administrators can create more inclusive and welcoming programs by involving newcomers in program planning and implementation. Partnering with community organizations that have experience supporting newcomers can also be helpful.
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Insight to inform program delivery
“Senior decision-makers in community sport organizations need to create opportunities for program leaders to share their experiences and knowledge. Staff know the barriers and challenges
“Senior decision-makers in community sport organizations need to create opportunities for program leaders to share their experiences and knowledge. Staff know the barriers and challenges experienced by participants, but those barriers and challenges can persist if insights aren’t filtered up the organizational hierarchy.” – Amina Haggar, a University of Ottawa graduate student, shares insights from her research on the sport experiences of second-generation African Canadian girls.
knowledge nuggets
Newcomer experiences
For community sport organizations, newcomers to Canada are an important source of future participants/members, staff, and volunteers. Taking the time to consider the experiences of
For community sport organizations, newcomers to Canada are an important source of future participants/members, staff, and volunteers. Taking the time to consider the experiences of newcomers when they walk through your doors or onto your fields – and taking action to make those experiences better – can help build authentic and long-lasting relationships.
More Newcomer resources
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