Recreation & Physical Activity Accessibility in the Canadian Context

This poster will investigate the role of recreational programs in minimizing financial burdens in low-income Canadian families. Fee assistant programs (FAPs), such as Jumpstart and KidSport, are subsidized programs that create opportunities for citizens with low-income to participate in and access physical public activities. However, FAPs have limitations, including equipment fees, tournament fees, transportation barriers, and a lack of communication, that low-income families face when accessing recreational and physical activities. These limitations are a concern as there is a positive correlation between time spent on physical activity and an individual’s overall mental and physical health wellbeing. This research focused on identifying current available resources for low-income families to use along with FAPs to reduce barriers that impact their physical activity and recreational access.