Aboriginal Sport Circle, Canadian Olympic Committee and RBC Announce Collaboration to Support Indigenous and Far North Sport Opportunities Across Canada

June 10, 2026

TORONTO (June 10, 2026) - The Aboriginal Sport Circle (ASC) and the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), with support from the Canadian Olympic Foundation (COF) and RBC, have announced a new initiative to support participation in sport in Indigenous and Far North communities across Canada.

This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to strengthening relationships and identifying meaningful opportunities for alignment across the sport system. It brings into conversation two national strategies: The Spirit of Sport - Active Together, a 10-year, Indigenous-led roadmap grounded in culture and self-determination, and the COC's Team Canada 2035 10-year strategic plan, which aims to strengthen the sport system from grassroots to high performance.

At its core is a shared ambition to help ensure more Indigenous youth can access sport in their own communities across the country, in ways that reflect their cultures, values, and aspirations.

RBC's support of the COF helped bring this program to life, and laid the groundwork for the COC to make a one-time investment of $500,000 to support Provincial and Territorial Aboriginal Sport Bodies (PTASBs). This initiative strengthens RBC's longstanding commitment to the Canadian Olympic movement - dating back to 1947 - to nurture athletes across their full sports journey, from talent discovery through career transition.

The contribution will focus on two key areas:

• Expanding participation within Indigenous and Far North communities through locally driven programming.
• Building culturally safe bridges to mainstream sport pathways, enabling youth to transition into local clubs, Provincial and National Sport Organizations, and high-performance pathways.

"This is about creating more opportunities for Indigenous youth to take part in sport," said Rob Newman, President of the Aboriginal Sport Circle. "The Spirit of Sport sets out a long-term path forward, and this collaboration is an important step in building the relationships and supports needed to move that work ahead."

"This collaboration and investment is an important step towards achieving the ambitions of Team Canada 2035, which aims to inspire 1 million more young people to engage in organized sport and to field a Team Canada that reflects Canada," said Jacquie Ryan, Chief Executive Officer of the COF and Chief Brand and Commercial Officer of the COC. "Through our work with ASC, and thanks to the leadership of RBC, we can ensure this investment responds to community priorities and is guided by Indigenous leadership, while creating opportunities for more young people to experience the many benefits of sport."

"At RBC, we believe sport has the power to open doors and change lives - and every young person deserves equal access to that opportunity," said Andrea Barrack, Senior Vice President, Sustainability & Impact, RBC. "That's why we're proud to support the Canadian Olympic Foundation and the work they're doing with the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Aboriginal Sport Circle, in helping ensure youth can participate in sport, and experience it in ways that honour their cultures, communities and ambitions."

-30-

Media Contacts:

Peter Saltsman
Senior Manager, Public Relations, Canadian Olympic Committee
C: 647-382-6986
E: psaltsman@olympic.ca

Jaclyn Guenette
Executive Director, Aboriginal Sport Circle
E: jguenette@aboriginalsportcircle.ca

 

---

View More