The City of Calgary has announced the launch of Sport Hub, a community-centered program said to bring fun, inclusive and coach-led sport lessons directly to schools and communities for kids and teens aged 5 to 18.
In 2026, Sport Hub aims to reach more than 45 communities across Calgary and 90 schools between Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) and Calgary Board of Education (CBE).
Ayden, a Grade 12 student at Father Lacombe High School, said the increased access to quality sports programming will go a long way.
“With current financial situations, life is so expensive and getting into new stuff, we can find passion,” he said, adding that his favourite sport to play is hockey.
“(Professional coaches coming to teach in school) will be amazing. Honestly, getting professional coaching feedback is crazy.”
Brett Whittingham, Leader of Recreation Programs with the City of Calgary, said that the hub will help students of all financial background access certified sports coaching.
“Sport hub is all about reducing the barriers to access for kids and teens to have high quality sports and physical activity opportunities,” he said.
“This has a unique collaborative delivery model, where we work with schools, sport organizations, community partners and funders to reduce barriers to access, bringing programming into schools and in neighborhood spaces where kids and teens already learn and play.”
Programs will be delivered in-school during instructional time, think of a guest soccer coach teaching a gym class, and as extra curricular activities.
“In collaboration with teachers, we co-develop lesson plans to ensure they’re aligned with curriculum so that we help teachers enhance their physical education,” Whittingham said.
Examples showcased at the launch event hosted at Calgary’s Father Lacombe High School included cricket and lacrosse, though any sporting organizations or schools are free to reach out.
“Schools, if they’re interested in requesting a program, they can reach out through 311. We do collaborate with the school districts to identify which which schools are most in need of opportunities for sport,” Whittingham said.
After school and community based programs will require registration. Whittingham said that families can register at calgary.ca/sporthub, where there is a list of community based program offerings.
The Sport Hub is part of Calgary’s broader GamePlan recreation strategy. Over the coming years as funding hopefully increases, Sport Hub hopes to support all Calgary public schools, Wittingham said.
District-wide impact: Calgary school boards
Having education extend beyond a classroom is very important, both CBE and CCSD representatives said. As it gets going, Sport Hub will help ensure that students across Calgary have equitable access to quality opportunity.
“We want to see that students are not just engaging in front of us, but also on their own time. From a Physical Education standpoint, we want them not just being active in this gymnasium, but also when we look outside to recess, we look outside after school and we want to see them engage in that physical activity,” said Matt MacDonald, CCSD K-9 Phys Ed and wellness consultant.
“The collaboration that we see among our district, as well as CBE and with the city allows for us to make sure we’re reducing all those barriers that maybe could get in the way. This has been a long project, but it also is something that we believe is gonna be sustainable.”
David Dyck, an Education Director with CBE, said that the Hub will offer students insight and experience only previously found in competitive and tryout environments.
“This is such an amazing partnership that has removed so many barriers for our students. So instead of sitting on the sideline, they’re able to get involved, be part of a team,” he said.
“We know that connections of belonging and relationship, the social, emotional skills that we’re teaching students right from kindergarten to grade 12, a lot of that happens in a natural way and in a new way, out on the field or in sport that you can’t replicate in the classroom.”
