How these 5 communities became Canada’s Most Active & used their Community Challenge prize money to benefit residents

Since 2019, thousands of communities across the country have competed for the title of Canada’s Most Active Community during the ParticipACTION Community Challenge – a national physical activity and sport initiative that encourages everyone to get active throughout June. Through the last five editions of the Community Challenge, we’ve awarded over $1 million to national, provincial and territorial winners to support local physical activity and sport initiatives. 

Over the years, communities from coast to coast to coast have demonstrated just how fun and innovative getting active can be. Flash mobs, mayor-led cartwheel competitions and line dancing are just a few of the thousands of activities that helped five communities each earn the title of Canada’s Most Active Community.

For ideas and motivation to help your community earn the title and win the $100,000 grand prize in the 2025 Challenge, read on to find out what other physical activity and sport initiatives past national winners ran and how they used the prize money to benefit their residents.  

Table of contents 

• Enderby, B.C. 

• North Grenville, Ontario 

• Red Deer, Alberta 

• Salisbury, New Brunswick 

• Hay River, Northwest Territories 

How the Community Challenge prize money impacted Enderby 

Thanks to the Community Challenge prize money, the City of Enderby improved community recreation infrastructure projects, including baseball diamonds and two parks. It also funded outdoor play initiatives, recreation programs, and schools, as well as initiatives that keep older adults active.  

How North Grenville participated in the 2021 Community Challenge 

Here are some of the many events and activities that North Grenville ran during the 2021 Community Challenge:   

• The mayor led a 12-hour marathon tennis match and cartwheel competition and challenged the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa. 

• The Municipality of North Grenville shared a variety of online exercise videos for different ages and abilities. It also promoted and encouraged town residents to use local trails.  

• Schools hosted virtual physical education classes for students and their parents, siblings, and grandparents.  

• Community groups and fitness studios provided free virtual classes. 

• A tennis club offered free weekly clinics. 

“We were absolutely thrilled that North Grenville was selected as Canada’s Most Active Community,” said Nancy Peckford, North Grenville’s mayor. “The COVID-19 pandemic was tough on everyone, and the Community Challenge was a wonderful way to inspire and encourage families, seniors, youth and everyone in between to become more active. Thanks to the leadership of the Advisory Committee on Health, Wellness and Fitness, our community rallied, we went for gold, and we are immensely proud of everyone’s efforts.”

How North Grenville benefited from the prize money 

The Municipality of North Grenville used its Community Challenge prize money to replace the playground structures at two local parks, upgrade a community centre basketball court, and replace the rink shed at a local park. 

How Red Deer got involved in the 2022 Community Challenge 

The following are some of the many ways that Red Deer got active during the 2022 Challenge:   

• The mayor starred in an interactive video that challenged all City of Red Deer employees to get involved and unveiled several mini launch events for all residents to participate in. These mini challenges reduced barriers to physical activity participation among people who experience health inequities, with the goal of creating fun, free opportunities to help residents stay connected while being active.  

• Hosted fitness classes, sports tournaments and family fun days. 

• Move Your Mood and SPARC Red Deer spray-painted interactive games in two city locations and challenged families to play the games to win prizes.  

• Partnered with local schools to promote physical education, resulting in increased participation in school sports. 

“I am incredibly proud of our community for coming together and proving that Red Deer was indeed the most active community in Canada,” said Ken Johnston, Red Deer’s mayor. “When there is a challenge, we rise to the top and prove that there is no place, and no one, like the people of Red Deer. Thank you, ParticipACTION, for this Challenge and for encouraging physical activity in our country.”  

How Red Deer used its prize money 

With its Community Challenge prize money, the City of Red Deer:  

• Hosted a Community Challenge celebration event in October 2022 to mark the community’s achievement and inspire active lifestyles. Attendees participated in free activities, including swimming, skating, badminton, pickleball, volleyball and bouldering. 

• Provided grants to individuals so they could lead activities that promoted community well-being and physical activity. 

• Distributed 49 grants to organizations that supported 77 inclusive physical activity programs that served inactive and equity-denied groups. For example, the City awarded a grant to the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre so it could purchase portable SMARTfit exergaming equipment to teach functional movement to improve community residents’ physical and mental well-being. 

“Winning this title is a testament to our sense of community and showcases how being active is in our nature,” said Robert Campbell, Salisbury’s mayor. “Thank you to our residents and partners who joined us in showing the rest of Canada that Salisbury is a small community that does big things!”  

How the prize money impacted Salisbury 

Thanks to the Challenge prize money, the Town of Salisbury enhanced its existing trail network, providing more extensive and accessible pathways for recreation, transportation and environmental appreciation. Building on the momentum from the Community Challenge, the Town introduced a program to provide financial assistance to families for youth recreational activities.  

How Hay River took part in the 2024 Community Challenge 

Here’s how Hay River participated in last year’s Challenge:   

• Offered free daily instructor-led and drop-in programs at the community centre. 

• Provided programs at local parks and playgrounds. 

• Hosted a corporate physical activity challenge for local businesses to create healthier work environments.  

• All local schools tracked gym classes, recesses, free swims and multi-sport sessions offered at a community centre. 

• Collaborated with an organization to provide accessible and culturally relevant programs for Indigenous residents.  

• Partnered with a golf club to offer free weekly golf for older adults and a Father’s Day golf event.  

• Teamed up with a softball club to provide new players with new gloves, resulting in increased softball club registration.  

• Offered free fitness and swimming programs. 

“On behalf of the Council of the Town of Hay River, I would like to highlight the tremendous impact the ParticipACTION Community Challenge has had on our community,” said Kandis Jameson, Hay River’s mayor. “With over 40 organizations tracking events, hundreds of participants, and thousands of hours of activity, a significant portion of the community came together with a common fitness goal that they knocked out of the park! Once again Hay River has demonstrated its ability to punch above its weight as a hub of recreation! I thank ParticipACTION, all participants and especially the Town of Hay River’s recreation department, who demonstrated outstanding leadership through their encouragement, support and outreach to the community.”  

How Hay River plans to spend its prize money 

The Town of Hay River plans to use its prize money to support upgrades to local sport and recreation programming and to revitalize Inukshuk Park, helping to transform it into an active gathering place for community events, outdoor fitness and everyday movement. This will include adding multi-sport equipment for pickleball and basketball and replacing a rink’s boards and resurfacing the asphalt beneath it.  

Now that you know how Canada’s Most Active Communities won past editions of the ParticipACTION Community Challenge and spent their prize money, what will your organization do to help your community earn the title and win the $100,000 grand prize?