Active Abilities Canada is proud to present its 2025-2030 Strategic Plan. Its creation and implementation mark a new era of revitalization for the organization. We hope you will work with us to realize a society where people of all abilities can choose how they participate in physical activity, recreation and sport.
Active Abilities Canada’s new Strategic Plan focuses on three overarching areas – Influence, Connection and Knowledge Mobilization. Each of the areas are clearly defined by a goal with eight overarching objectives that contribute to all of the goals. Each objective has specific actions, timelines and metrics. Finally, we have identified and defined seven fundamental principles, and described how Active Abilities Canada will be guided by each of the principles.
Vision
All people with disabilities in Canada can be physically active and experience well-being.
Mission
Active Abilities Canada supports communities and organizations to facilitate the participation of people with disabilities in physical activity, recreation, and community sport. We will have an impact by:
- facilitating connection between organizations and communities that play a role in supporting physical activity opportunities for people with disabilities.
- ensuring research and knowledge translates into action that supports physical activity opportunities for people with disabilities.
- advocating for changes to reduce barriers to physical activity opportunities for people with disabilities.
Goals
To support physical activity opportunities for people with disabilities, Active Abilities Canada will strive to achieve these goals:
01
Community, organizational, and government leaders build stronger awareness of and engagement with each other through diverse, ongoing connections.
02
Community, organizational, and government leaders actively apply shared, relevant knowledge to their work and decision-making.
03
Communities, organizations, and governments adopt inclusive policies and practices that guarantee meaningful participation and choice in physical activity, recreation, and community sport activities for people with disabilities.
Fundamental Principles
Seven fundamental principles will serve and guide Active Abilities Canada.
1) The Language and Definition of Disability
Active Abilities Canada will:
- respect the language choice of those we serve.
- work with Indigenous communities to reflect the ways in which disability is understood and honoured.
- embrace the definitions of disability such that we address all disabilities and address cultural and societal norms that result in barriers to participation.
- serve English-speaking and French-speaking communities across Canada.
2) A Rights-based Approach
Active Abilities Canada will:
- focus on the human rights of all people who identify with a disability and work to enhance their quality of life by addressing attitudes, social and physical environments, programs and policies that impede access to participation in physical activity, recreation, and community sport.
- support, as does Canada as a country, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which means that participation in physical activity, recreation, and community sport is a fundamental right that contributes to quality-of-life.
3) The Individual’s Choice
Active Abilities Canada will:
- advocate for all opportunities in physical activity, recreation, and community sport that ensure individuals can choose how they want to participate.
4) Dignity and Respect
Active Abilities Canada will:
- value diverse perspectives of those with lived/living experience and ensure the stories and experiences of people with disabilities inform and influence Active Abilities Canada’s work.
- respect “nothing about us without us”.
- through its actions, educate about and combat ableism (oppression, prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination against people with a disability based on actual or presumed disability) in the physical activity, recreation, and community sport sector.
- ensure Indigenous communities, rural and remote communities, and the Francophone population are included / engaged with intentionality.
- recognize that each person has different lived/living experiences which may or may not be based on oppression. The experience of disability is shaped by race, gender, class, income, culture, age, sexual orientation, religion, and more. No matter the mix, our culture is one of acceptance. Creating spaces where people can be every and all versions of themselves at the same time will build a diverse and stronger community.
5) Informed Decision-making
Active Abilities Canada will:
- develop policies, programs, and practices informed by a combination of the evidence-based research, input from persons with disabilities, expert opinion, and community assets.
- through education, reflection and action, seek to understand the experiences of Indigenous peoples and employ Indigenous ways of knowing to work towards a future where all voices are heard and respected.
6) Versatility
Active Abilities Canada will:
- be resourceful: finding creative solutions to challenges and fostering innovative practices.
- be responsive: proactively and reactively ensuring the organization is strong and resilient in rapidly changing environments and circumstances.
7) Integration and Alignment
Active Abilities Canada will:
- support, encourage, and implement actions that contribute to the physical activity, recreation, and community sport strategies and demonstrate ways to integrate and align the actions in a way that is coordinated and meaningful to constituents in the sector in the absence of one comprehensive strategy.
- reflect on and determine the ways to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly goals 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
- work with Indigenous communities to collectively realize the relevant Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action related to physical activity, recreation, and community sport, and disability.
