For one lucky Calgary community, a new soccer pitch is coming your way.
Calgary will be receiving one of 25 free community mini soccer pitches planned across Canada through a partnership between the Government of Canada and Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities. Federal, municipal and community leaders said the project is part of a national effort to increase access to sport following this summer’s FIFA World Cup.
Though the announcement was made Tuesday morning at Beacham Park in Beddington Heights, the pitch’s final location is yet to be determined.
Community consultations, including current access to nearby facilities, will help determine the final location and guide the project design.
Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden said the investment is intended to leave a lasting soccer legacy beyond Canada’s successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup.
“We answered the question, ‘Is Canada a soccer nation?’ It’s a resounding yes,” he said.
The mini pitches are part of the federal government’s recently announced $1 billion investment in sport over the next five years, aimed at improving recreation facilities, supporting athletes and increasing participation across the country, according to van Koeverden
“Talent is everywhere in this country and opportunity should be too,” he said.
Deputy Mayor and Ward 4 Coun. DJ Kelly said Calgary has seen increasing demand for soccer facilities as the city continues to grow.
“My office has heard time and time again Calgarians need more soccer pitches,” Kelly said.
The project aligns with Calgary’s GamePLAN recreation strategy, according to Kelly, which focuses on ensuring residents have access to recreation facilities that promote healthy, active lifestyles.
Kelly also pointed to growing enthusiasm for soccer following Cavalry FC’s Canadian Premier League championship, the Canadian men’s national team’s recent World Cup performance and the arrival of Calgary Wild FC.
“This is the kind of forward thinking that doesn’t just improve communities. It makes them whole,” he said.
Community input will determine location
Unlike similar projects already completed in Toronto and Surrey, B.C., Calgary’s pitch has not yet been assigned a location.
Brad Ellard, lead stakeholder relations with Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, said consultations with local organizations, the City of Calgary and residents will determine where the facility is most needed.
“We know barriers such as cost, limited facilities and few nearby places to play can make those opportunities harder to reach,” Ellard said.
“These pitches will be more than a place to play soccer. They’ll be community spaces for open play, local programming and connection for children.”
When asked how the location would be selected, Ellard said the process will consider community needs, access to existing facilities and where a new pitch could remove barriers to participation.
The Calgary project follows the opening of community pitches in Toronto and Surrey, with additional facilities planned this year in Saskatchewan, Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec as the national rollout continues.
No timeline for construction or final site selection was announced Tuesday. Officials said public engagement will begin before a location is finalized.
