Canada is a leading sport nation. How sport is practiced in Canada today is influenced by a number of factors, including our four seasons, and our geographic and social diversity. For example, lacrosse, our national summer sport, has been played by Aboriginal peoples for close to a thousand years. Hockey, our national winter sport, was invented in Canada in the 1800s, and basketball was invented by Canadian Dr. James Naismith in 1891 to condition young athletes during the winter. Today, soccer is the most popular sport among Canadian children.
Our sport system allows Canadians from all segments of society to get involved in sport activities at all levels and in all forms of participation. From childhood to adulthood, sport is part of a healthy, active lifestyle.