The Next Play program will equip 65 Ontario-based community organizations with tools and resources to engage more girls and gender-diverse youth in active recreation
Toronto, ON (Monday, April 28, 2025) – Canadian Women & Sport is proud to announce that The Next Play program is now open for applications. With the generous support of a $480,000 investment from the Government of Ontario, we’re launching the program for a third year to create more opportunities for girls, women, and gender-diverse people to be active.
“Over the past two years, we’ve seen remarkable momentum as organizations and communities commit to making sport more inclusive and empowering for girls from diverse backgrounds. With support from the Government of Ontario, we’ve worked with over 140 organizations to create lasting change. Thanks to this continued investment, we can continue to deepen that impact, inspire inclusion, and strengthen equity in sport across the province,” said Allison Sandmeyer-Graves, CEO of Canadian Women & Sport
The Next Play program empowers sport leaders with tools and resources to engage more girls, women and gender-diverse people from diverse backgrounds in active recreation. This year, 65 community organizations across Ontario will complete training to counter gender bias in program design and receive grants to help engage more girls in sport and active recreation.
Applications for The Next Play are now open for Ontario-based sport, physical activity and recreation organizations.
Learn more about The Next Play application process.
For More Information
Danielle Poulos
Manager, Partnerships & Engagement
danielle.poulos@womenandsport.ca
Connect with Canadian Women & Sport
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Website: www.womenandsport.ca
Email: info@womenandsport.ca
Connect with the Government of Ontario
X: @OntarioSport
Facebook: Ontario Sport
LinkedIn: Ontario Sport | Sport Ontario
Website: https://www.ontario.ca/page/sport-and-recreation
About Canadian Women & Sport
Canadian Women & Sport is a national nonprofit with a 43-year history of work as the leading voice and authority on women and sport. We believe in the power of sport as a platform for advancing equity for women across all areas of society. As such, we are committed to creating a more equitable and inclusive sport system that empowers women and girls as participants and leaders, within sport and through sport.