Alberta government gives children’s sports participation initiative more funding

Free Play for Kids' soccer program on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (Sean McClune/CTV News Edmonton)

The provincial government is investing an additional $547,000 in KidSport Alberta to help families who need support to access sports and recreational opportunities for their children.

The province is spending $8 million for the 2025-26 period through the Every Kid Can Play program to expand access to sports and recreation for children and youth, with KidSport Alberta receiving $3.5 million of it. The province says the additional funding will help 1,500 more children to play.

“Our government believes sport is for everyone and that no child should be left on the sidelines, but sometimes, the cost of registration, fees or equipment creates financial barriers preventing Alberta children and youth from participating in the sports that they love,” Andrew Boitchenko, the minister of tourism and sport, said Thursday at a media conference held at west Edmonton’s St. Francis Xavier Sports Centre.

“When high costs prevent kids from joining teams or accessing the spaces they need, they miss out on learning lifelong skills, making friends, and most importantly, having fun. Through the Every Kid Can Play program, we remove some of those barriers and enable kids to discover the power of play.”

Boitchenko told media the government noticed the relatively high number of children accessing the program and that the province “had room to add a little bit more.”

The Every Kid Can Play program, which started in 2023, supports more than 35,000 children through 130 provincial and community non-profit organizations across Alberta.

KidSport Alberta helps eligible families receive up to $350 per child to help cover registration fees for sports and recreation.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Darcy Seaton