Statistics Canada surveyed 10,000 Canadians in 2005 to better understand the participation rate and respective trends in sports participation through the General Social Survey. The most relevant trends that can be sited to support the work of this strategy include;

• Swimming is the third most popular sport in Canada followed by, soccer, basketball, baseball and volleyball.
• Participation in sport has decreased substantially. One in three Canadians over the age of 15 years participated in one or more sports (at least once per week) as compared to one in two Canadians in the early 1990s. The decline was witnessed in all age groups, income and education levels, both sexes and in most provinces.
• Many Canadians exercise regularly (walking, jogging, gardening, etc.). and this may accommodate for the decrease in participation in sports.
  Involvement in sports on a voluntary basis increased and female coaches slightly outnumbered their male counterpart.,
• As Canadians age, their rate of participation in active sports decreases, due to other pressures including lack of time, family responsibilities, careers, lack of interest, and interest in other leisure pursuits.
• Women are gaining ground as referees, coaches and umpires. The male female ratio is 2 to 1 versus 5 to 1 in 1992. There still remains a gender gap in active participation, although females are closing the gap.
• Participation rates were above the national average in Ontario, PEI, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
• Participation rates are still higher amongst those with higher levels of education and income.
• The most active groups are students and school aged children, although participation rates are down from 64% in 1998 to 51% in 2005.
• 55% of boys are active in sports while 44% of girls are active in sports. Female participation remained stable while male participation dropped from 59%.