Applications are now open for the CANSquash Pilot Program as supported by the Government of Canada’s 2025-26 Canadian Sport for All Initiative (CSAI) Program. The 2025-26 CSAI grant will invest upwards of $300,000 to community programs across Canada that will drive and retain more participants to one of the world’s healthiest, diverse and dynamic sports. (Squash Canada Receives Community Sport for All Initiative Grant via Canada.ca)
Funds will support local initiatives that remove barriers to participation in sport, specifically for underrepresented groups such as Black, Indigenous and racialized communities, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQI+ people, persons with low incomes, seniors and newcomers through the newly developed CANSquash program.
CANSquash is a standardized national curriculum for squash participants and coaches of all ages and abilities. Based on Squash Canada’s Long-Term Development (LTD) (insert link) framework, CANSquash will provide coaches and volunteers a series of standardized lesson plans and resources, offering new and returning participants a consistent squash experience from coast to coast. The 2025-26 CANSquash pilot will focus on the FUNdamentals (ages 5-10) and Skill Development (ages 8-16) modules with Training, Competition, Performance, Active for Life and School squash modules to follow.
2025-26 CANSquash Pilot Applicants must:
- Be facility members of their PTSO and participants must be individual members.
- A registered not-for-profit organization (Must be not for profit entities that are public to the community – PTSO’s and schools are NOT eligible).
- Have a trained NCCP coaching staff with a lead that is NCCP certified.
- Confirmed Safe Sport trained volunteers.
- Proven/strong potential of FUNdamentals/Skill Development programming in place for Winter 2026. The program must have a minimum of 6 participants (no max except 4 per court) for a minimum duration of 4 weeks (maximum 12 weeks).
- Commit to administration, budgeting, reporting, feedback, documentation of the project in conjunction with Squash Canada.
- Open to the public including low-income, new Canadian, athletes with diverse abilities and indigenous communities. The program must be promoted in both official languages.
- Applications will be awarded on the above criteria and based on geography; all regions must be represented.
- Development Programs must be paired with developers within 1 hour travel and be prepared to allocate appropriate budget for this leadership.
- Sign a waiver allowing Squash Canada to use and keep all images, graphics, etc.
The Call will remain open from September 15, 2025 – October 15, 2025. Successful applicants will be contacted as early as October 15, 2025, with preparation and training in November and program dates of January – March 2026.
It is expected that the CANSquash Pilot Programs funds will be used between November 2025, and March 31, 2026.
Contact Tracy Gardner coaching@squash.ca, if you have any further questions.
