The Government of Canada is Building Canada Strong through sport. From playground to podium, we are investing in communities, supporting athletes and uniting Canadians, because sport is the ultimate nation builder.
Today, through the Build Communities Strong Fund, the Honourable Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport), and the Honourable John Zerucelli, Secretary of State (Labour) and Member of Parliament for Etobicoke North, announced a federal investment of $76 million to create new a state-of-the-art community centre at Humber Polytechnic’s North Campus in Etobicoke.
The Government of Canada is building and upgrading places where Canadians come together, that includes the new Athletic and Community Recreation Hub (The Hub) at Humber; connecting kids and families with more opportunities to play and stay active, while making sure athletes of all-levels have a space to pursue excellence.
The Hub will feature six gymnasiums for provincial, national and international basketball competitions, creating more opportunities for Canadians to train and proudly wear the maple leaf on the world stage, while proving, once again, that Canada is the best sport-hosting nation in the world. The facility will also include a high-performance training centre, a domed playing field and expanded space for essential facilities. Available programming will double, supporting community, academic and athletic uses.
Talent is everywhere across our country, and opportunity should be too. The Hub will bring communities together and open the doors to sport for more Canadians, hosting local organizations and clubs with a commitment to 32,000 hours of community use each year. When more people participate, the benefits reach far beyond sport: healthier people, stronger communities and a more resilient economy.
By integrating the National Training Centre for Canada Basketball, The Hub will soon serve as the official home of basketball in Canada, housing their training and operations and helping athletes develop at every level.
Additionally, through new federal funding, the Government of Canada will provide a $1.8 million Sport Support Program top-up to Canada Basketball’s overall annual funding, totalling $81.3 million for 2026-2027.
Today’s announcement builds on the Government of Canada’s $1 billion investment in sport, the largest in our nation’s history, support Canadian athletes, strengthen sport infrastructure, increase participation and ensure Canada continues to host world-class sporting events. A country that comes together through sport is a country united.
Quotes
“Sport has the power to shape lives and connect people in ways that very few things can. As we continue our nation’s monumental year of sport, the Government of Canada is investing to establish the new home of Canadian basketball at Humber. The Hub will strengthen Canada’s sport system, help athletes at every level pursue excellence, expand participation and create more opportunities to host major sporting events here at home, proving once again that Canada is the best sport-hosting nation in the world. We’re building Canada Strong, from playground to podium.”
– The Honourable Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport)
“This new Athletic and Community Recreation Hub at Humber Polytechnic will give young people across our community – including Rexdale, Jamestown, Mount Olive-Silverstone-Jamestown, Humber Summit, Smithfield, West Humber-Clairville, and surrounding communities – greater access to year-round sport and recreation, while helping athletes pursue their goals. From playground to podium, this facility will strengthen Etobicoke for years to come.”
– The Honourable John Zerucelli, Secretary of State (Labour) and Member of Parliament for Etobicoke North
“For more than forty years, Humber Polytechnic has given Canada Basketball’s athletes a place to train, today, we lay the permanent foundation for basketball in Canada. It is our objective to be Best in the world, when our teams take to the court, and Best for Canada, in how our sport represents our nation’s values. With this historic investment and partnership, we will soon have a home to ensure both of those promises are kept. We are grateful to the Government of Canada for recognizing basketball as a sport of national importance, and to Humber Polytechnic for continuing to help make the game accessible.”
– Michael Bartlett, President and CEO, Canada Basketball
“Today’s investment is a significant milestone for Humber, Canada Basketball and the future of sport in Canada. We are deeply grateful to the federal government for their commitment to playground to podium, and their support in bringing this transformative facility to life. As the new home of Canada Basketball and a much-needed community resource, Humber is proud to build on our tradition of athletic excellence while creating a dynamic living laboratory where students can gain hands-on experience through training, applied research and cross-disciplinary collaboration.”
– Ann Marie Vaughan, President and CEO, Humber Polytechnic
