Sports were a big part of growing up for Robert Cardinal, especially hockey. That’s why the Edmonton father had no hesitation enrolling three of his daughters in the sport. Then he started noticing the cost. “When you’re a kid, you don’t really think about it. You just want to play,” he told CTV News Edmonton this month as the minor hockey season got underway for his daughters in the U9, U11 and U18 age groups. “Becoming a parent, especially of five, and having three who want to be in hockey, it puts a stranglehold on the wallet pretty good.” Beyond registration fees, there are equipment costs, travel expenses and the day-to-day costs that come with keeping young athletes fed and active. “They’re super hungry after they’re done skating, so we’ve got to feed them and then just keep them going, keep them interested,” he said. Cardinal said he can’t afford to move his children into higher tiers, even when they’ve been invited to play at that level. “It’s very pricey,” he said. “It sucks that you can’t let them have what they want just because of the financial barriers.” Jasmine Nuthall feels the same pressure. Her family spends tens of thousands of dollars each year to support her two daughters’ hockey ambitions, including one who plays at an elite level. Living more than an hour north of Edmonton has made it increasingly difficult to support her teenagers’ athletic goals, she said. The family often spends at least three hours on the road for practices and tournaments. “It’s gone in a direction where not only has it become inaccessible, but it’s also created a lack of competition because it’s not so much if you can play, it’s more if you can pay,” Nuthall said. Sport Central has been working to level the playing field for children across central and northern Alberta. The Edmonton-based non-profit collects and refurbishes gently used sports equipment to help make sports more affordable for families. It recently opened a new facility that supplies equipment to families and organizations. Kathryn McCaffrey, Sport Central’s manager of community engagement, said rising costs have not only squeezed household budgets but also highlighted the growing need for support. “I think a lot of people saw after the COVID-19 pandemic that things just kind of kept going up and up and up, and a lot of family wages stayed the same,” McCaffrey said. “With the evolution of sport, the price has gone up. “In terms of access, working with different organizations, we’re seeing that more people are aware there’s a significant barrier, especially for sports like hockey that come with high costs. There are more programs and more ways for people to access the sport, and we’re definitely a part of that.” Sport Central is one of the resources Cardinal relies on to keep his daughters in the game. “It means the world,” he said. “Normally, we would rely on hand-me-downs or thrift shopping just to make it affordable for ourselves. “It is quite pricey to get brand new hockey equipment. Everybody wants the next best thing and all that, but they grow out of it in four or five months.” Other organizations, including Sport Edmonton, are also trying to connect sports groups with resources “to ensure that they can deliver programmes, quality programmes, at the most affordable price possible,” according to CEO Evan Daum. “A lot of things go into that: access to facilities, grants from the City of Edmonton and different programmes available through other levels of government,” Daum said. “We’re trying to be a connector in the space and make sure organizations have the tools at their disposal so as many kids as possible can experience the benefits of sport.” Part of Sport Edmonton’s advocacy work focuses on improving access to sports facilities. “Any time there’s a facility that goes down or there’s a shortage of facilities, it ultimately puts pressure back on participants in terms of accessibility, but also affordability,” Daum said. “When supply is short, it makes it more difficult for people to access those opportunities.” Daum said barriers to sports participation are being examined across the country. “It’s not just an Edmonton issue; it’s an issue across the country. I think people are starting to get serious about funding sport in a meaningful way.” For Cardinal, seeing his daughters enjoy sports, make friends and learn life lessons makes the sacrifice worthwhile. “I do wish it was a little more affordable across the board, no matter what level you play, as long as you’re playing because you love it,” he said. With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Curtis Goodrum
