2025 is being celebrated as the Year of Sport in Newfoundland and Labrador. This special celebration will raise up sports and athletes in this province and will consist of marquee events, including the 2025 Canada Games. Throughout the year, there will be spotlights on community sport, volunteerism, women and inclusivity in sport, seniors in sport and athletes and builders. Celebrate NL and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation (TCAR) will also deliver several programs in support of the sporting community. See below to learn about the Sport and Recreation Access Fund and visit TCAR’s website to learn more about the Community Sport Fund. Please stay tuned for more to come in 2025!
Eligible Applicants:
The following types of organizations that manage ice areas or aquatic facilities are eligible:
- Municipalities
- Inuit Community Governments
- Non-Profit Organizations
- Private Organizations
Eligible Activities:
- Free and regular access to aquatic facilities or ice arenas for the purpose of increasing sport, active recreation and physical activity opportunities for all residents.
Eligible Costs:
- Eligible costs include pre-established hourly facility rental rates.
Program Criteria:
- Funds must be used to grant free access to aquatic facilities or ice arenas in Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Initiatives must increase access to sport and recreation for individuals and must be intended for and broadly accessible to the public.
- Free access must occur in 2025.
- Free access should occur consistently, if possible.
- Free access should be scheduled at prime times.
- Free access can include existing initiatives with admission fees or can be used for new initiatives.
- Facilities must actively communicate free access to the public.
- Aquatic facilities must have certified lifeguards on duty during public activities.
- The Year of Sport logo must be included in all promotions associated with this program.
- Organizations with multiple facilities will need to complete a separate application for each facility.
Available Funding:
- One-time grant of up to $10,000. Applicants will be expected to provide a budget that calculates pre-established hourly rental rates with the number of proposed free access hours.
- Applicants can apply through an online application form.
- The deadline to apply is 11:59pm NT on February 28, 2025.
- Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Program staff will contact administrators if applications are missing information.
- For more information contact Celebrate NL by email at info@celebratenl.ca or by phone at (709) 729-7084.
