Sport and Recreation
Sport and Physical Activity System Frequently Asked Questions

• Which government department is responsible for sport? Is there a Sport Minister and who is she or he?

• What is the difference between the provincial government’s Sport and Recreation Branch, 2010 Legacies Now, and Sport BC?

• How is sport funded and delivered in British Columbia?

• What is the role of other sport groups in British Columbia?

• I am an event organizer/club board member/club trainer/fitness leader/coach and need ‘how to’ information. Where can I find it?

1. Which government department is responsible for sport? Is there a Sport Minister and who is she or he?

The Sport and Recreation Branch is responsible for sport in British Columbia. The branch is part of the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts. The Minister responsible for sport is the Honourable Stan Hagen.

At the federal level, Sport Canada is responsible for sport. It is part of the Intergovernmental Affairs and Sport Sector within the Department of Canadian Heritage. The Minister responsible for sport is the Honourable Helena Guergis, Secretary of State (Foreign Affairs and International Trade) (Sport).

2. What is the difference between the provincial government’s Sport and Recreation Branch, 2010 Legacies Now, and Sport BC?

The Sport and Recreation Branch is a government department that develops policy and strategies to address systemic issues and opportunities for sport and physical activity in British Columbia. The Branch also works with other levels of government and other ministries/ departments to help ensure that British Columbia’s sport and physical activity interests are represented in other areas and to help bring other government resources to sport and physical activity.

2010 Legacies Now administers funding programs to develop legacies for sport and physical activity in the years leading up to, during and after 2010. It is working to help make British Columbia the most physically active jurisdiction to host a winter games.

Sport BC is a non-profit society that includes more than 80 provincial sport and sport-related organizations as members. Sport BC is a voice of amateur sport, providing leadership, direction and support to foster the growth and development of amateur sport in British Columbia.

3. How is sport funded and delivered in British Columbia?

The Sport and Recreation Branch funds the sport system through an annual contract with 2010 Legacies Now which, in turn, provides annual support to a variety of provincial organizations that provide programs and services throughout British Columbia. The government’s sport budget is $10.3 million, with $6 million administered through 2010 Legacies Now.

4. What is the role of other sport groups in British Columbia?

There are many sport groups in British Columbia. For example:

• Province-wide programs and services – various sport/recreation organizations deliver these services, such as Sport BC, the Coaches Association of B.C., Basketball BC, and many others. Links to some of these organizations can be found at the Sport Links page.
• Community sport clubs, teams and leagues – volunteers operate these local groups in communities throughout British Columbia. They raise funds through memberships, donations and other fundraising activities, including gaming revenues of about $20 million a year. Most are members of provincial sport organizations.
• Municipal recreation – local governments provide recreation centres, sport fields and other facilities. Funding comes from municipal and regional taxes and user fees. Across the province, hundreds of millions of dollars are invested in municipal recreation programs each year.
• School sport – individual schools and school districts fund and operate these programs. British Columbia school Sports governs and operates inter-school competition and programs for its high school-level members. It is funded through member fees, tournaments, clinics and government. Post secondary sport is administered by each institution’s athletic and recreation department, and funded through student fees, user fees, donations, provincial government post secondary funding, and other fundraising.
• Semi-professional and professional sports – these are for-profit organizations that are not funded by government, although they sometimes negotiate tax and/or facility concessions from local governments.

5. I am an event organizer/club board member/club trainer/fitness leader/coach and need ‘how to’ information. Where can I find it?

British Columbia’s sport and physical activity organizations have excellent tools to help you get started, or improve your sport. For more information, see the links at the Sport Links page, or peruse these examples:

• Information on event hosting can be found at the PacificSport website.
• Information on club organization and professional development can be found through Sport BC.
• Sport science and medicine information can be found through SportMed BC
• Fitness professionals can find information through the BC Recreation and Parks Association
• Coaching resources can be found through the Coaches Association of BC
• Information on gender equity and the promotion of girls and women in sport can be found through ProMOTION Plus.

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