The Sports Scene in Canada
Canada and sports have a long history, and it is one of the things that make the country so unique and interesting. Canadians see sports, not only as a means to have fun but also to foster unity and display their skills. Although the national summer and winter sports have the nation’s heart, there is no doubt that soccer is also very much loved. Rocketry is one sport/hobby that a lot of Canadians did not see coming. However, the Canada Launch and related activities have pushed interest in it.
If you want to find out more about sports in Canada as well as sport policies, acts, and regulations that govern these activities, then read on.
What is the National Summer Sport in Canada?
In 1994, the Canadian Parliament passed the National Sports Act that made lacrosse the national summer sport. Before this, in 1859, the sport was Canada’s national sport. So, to the ‘Is lacrosse Canada’s national sport?’ question, the answer is no. This sport is actually one of the oldest in North America, so let’s delve a little into its history.
This sport has a colourful history, not because of any scandals, but mainly because many aspects of lacrosse history have been passed down as folklore. One of the most extraordinary tales dates as far back as 1763, during Pontiac’s Rebellion. The Ottawa chief is said to have staged a game to distract British soldiers so that he could gain entry to Fort Michilimakinac, modern-day Michigan.
The 1800s were great years for lacrosse history in Canada, as it was during this period that the sport gained national recognition. The first games were played in the 1840s between the townsfolk and the Native People. Soon after that, lacrosse was named national sport. In 1867, the National Lacrosse Association, the first national sport governing body in North America, was created.
Interest in lacrosse waned in the early 1930s. However, it was soon revived as the rules were changed and the game was modernised. The mid and late 1900s were rife with international events and trophies for the Canadian lacrosse world.
What is Canada’s National Winter Sport?
When you think of winter and Canada, we bet there is one sport that comes to mind. If you guessed ice hockey, then you would be right! The National Sports of Canada Act of 1994 first attempted to declare ice hockey as the single national sport. However, the Canadian Lacrosse Association was strongly against this bill. It was eventually modified by the House of Commons for the inclusion of ice hockey as national winter sport and lacrosse as national summer sport.
Ice hockey roots can be traced back to the 1800s in Montreal. The first indoor game was played on March 3, 1875, in Montreal’s Victoria Skating Rink. This first encounter, heavily inspired by field hockey, was so violent that a lot of the spectators fled, according to the Daily British Whig of Kingston, Ontario. A semblance of order was seen when the first organised team, the McGill University Hockey Club, formed in 1877, codified the game’s rules and limited the number of players on each side to 9.
By the late 1800s, ice hockey was a strong contender for the title of Canada’s most popular sport, competing with lacrosse. In 1885, the Amateur Hockey Association, the first national hockey organisation, was formed in Montreal. The same year, the first league was formed in Kingston. This league had four teams: the Kingston Hockey Club, Queen’s University, the Kingston Athletics, and the Royal Military College. In the first championship game, Queen’s University won the Athletics with a 3-1 score.
Although it was considered ‘ungentlemanly’ to admit being paid for athletic services, the National Hockey Association was formed in 1910. Although it was hard to get people interested in the games at first, this sport soon gained in popularity.
New Sports Enterprises and Premier Soccer Properties in Canada
Sports viewership has reached an all time high in Canada. Measured by revenue, the spectator sports industry in Canada reached $3.7bn in 2022. More and more Canadians are getting interested in other national and international sports.
One of them is Canada’s national sport curling. Here, players slide stones on a sheet of ice towards a target area that is segmented into rings. Two teams made up of four players slide heavy granite stones across the curling sheet (ice). The aim is to reach the house, which is a circular target marked on the ice. Each team has eight stones.
Another sport that has been gaining a lot of momentum is soccer. Although this sport has been in Canada since the 1800s, it has become a lot more popular in recent years, especially with young Canadians. In fact, in recent years, studies say it might supersede hockey as the most popular sport, closely followed by basketball. In 2018, the Canadian Soccer Business (CSB), a new sports enterprise was launched and now represents marquee soccer properties that are the backbone of soccer in Canada.
What is NSL?
In 2015, the National Sports Launch happened in the United States, more precisely in South Carolina. This NSL launch was a pinnacle sport rocketry event where hundreds of attendees launched rockets for fun. It was a site to see, going from May 23 to May 25 on an 80-acre farm to the east of Orangeburg.
Although there is no NSL launch in Canada, Launch Canada is a similar initiative where students are offered real-world and first-hand experience in the world of engineering. This competition is supported by the Canadian Space Society and the Reaction Dynamics Lab Inc. The National Sport Launch 2023 did not happen. However, registration for Launch Canada 2023 is open and interested participants can read through the rules and regulations.
