CHFI Summit 2026: Proactive Health in Action
Movement, Connection, and Wellbeing | Ottawa, May 25–26, 2026
Over two days in Ottawa, the Canadian Health and Fitness Institute (CHFI) brought together leaders from health, sport, government, diplomacy, Indigenous sport and health, civil society, community organizations, and business around one urgent question: How can Canada move from talking about prevention to building a country where movement, connection, and wellbeing are part of everyday life?
Across five connected events—from Parliament Hill to the RA Centre's House of Sport—one message was clear: Canada has solutions. The opportunity now is to connect them, scale them, and activate them. The Summit was designed as a practical, non-partisan forum focused on advancing proactive health in Canada through collaboration and action.
Opening the Conversation
CHFI's Vice-Regal Patron, the Governor General of Canada, contributed welcome greetings to the program. Participants included the Honourable Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport), ambassadors and senior diplomatic representatives, Indigenous sport and health leaders, local officials, civil society organizations, and Members of Parliament from all major federal parties who jointly co-hosted the opening reception.
Global Perspectives on Proactive Health
The Honourable Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport), highlighted the Federal Government's commitment to sport and physical activity and their broader role in prevention and wellbeing.
Representatives from Finland, Norway, and Australia shared practical examples of how movement, outdoor recreation, prevention, and wellbeing can be embedded into policy and everyday life. Discussions included approaches to physical activity, active transportation, community design, and healthy childhood development.
Civil Society, Local Government, and Indigenous Leadership
Leaders from across Canada emphasized that movement is not owned by any one sector. It is a shared responsibility that requires collaboration between governments, schools, workplaces, sport organizations, health leaders, communities, and families.
ParticipACTION's new CEO, Larry McCloskey, discussed the role of civil society in driving national change. Dr. Janice Forsyth, Vice-President of the Aboriginal Sport Circle, highlighted the importance of Indigenous-led sport, recreation, and physical activity initiatives. Deputy Mayor Jeff Leiper brought a local government perspective, emphasizing how streets, trails, neighbourhoods, and public spaces shape everyday movement.
Five Events in Two Days
The Summit extended beyond the conference room and into the community.
The Parliament Hill activation featured MP Gabriel Hardy's Power House initiative, bringing exercise equipment and movement activities directly onto Parliament Hill. Fitness leaders, coaches, influencers, elected officials, and members of the public participated throughout the day.
Community walks and runs were also held, creating opportunities for participants to experience movement together while showcasing the role of active communities in supporting health and wellbeing.
The Parliament Hill reception brought together representatives from all major federal parties, while the Summit program at the RA Centre's House of Sport focused on practical solutions, policy discussions, and collaboration across sectors.
From Awareness to Action
A recurring theme throughout the Summit was that proactive health starts early and belongs to everyone.
Participants discussed the need to:
Design communities that make movement easy and accessible
Encourage physical activity across all ages and abilities
Support active lifestyles through schools, workplaces, and community organizations
Create practical pathways that help Canadians move more every day
The conversations reinforced the need for community-based solutions that can be implemented, scaled, and sustained over time.
Advocacy Priorities
As part of the Summit's Advocacy Day, CHFI leaders and supporters met with Members of Parliament and Senators to advance several non-partisan priorities, including:
Recognition and support for National Health and Fitness Day and National Indigenous Physical Activity Awareness Week
Advancement of a National Cycling Strategy
Greater focus on prevention, movement, and proactive health within Canadian communities
Let's Move Canada: Connected by Movement
The Summit also served as the national launch point for the Let's Move Canada Challenge, helping connect Canadians to opportunities for movement, community, and healthy living. The initiative supports CHFI's long-term vision of mobilizing 1,000,000 Canadians to move more by creating simple and accessible pathways for participation.
Join the Movement
Movement has the power to strengthen individuals, families, and communities.
Join the Let's Move Canada Challenge, connect with Canadians across the country through the Community Hub, and discover simple ways to move more, build healthy habits, and support a healthier future for Canada.
The Let’s Move Canada Challenge is being launched in partnership with the Indigenous Physical Activity & Cultural Circle (IPACC), in alignment with National Indigenous Physical Activity Awareness Week (NIPAAW) and the broader call to help Canadians move more, connect more, and improve wellbeing.
More to Come. Award-winning filmmaker Karl Talbot captured many key moments across the events. Over the weeks ahead, we will release the footage alongside the photo library, so there is plenty more good material to come.
You Can Help Get Canada Moving
Canada faces rising physical inactivity, poor mental health, and weak social connections. People know movement matters, but few turn intent into action. Through events like this Summit, CHFI helps close that gap, bringing partners together, activating local spaces, and turning everyday movement into real community impact.
We invite organisations or individuals interested in supporting this work to contact summit@chfi.fit with “Sponsorship / Partnership” in the subject line.
You can also give online at chfi.fit/donate today.
Together, we can help more Canadians turn their intentions into action so they can move more, live better, and thrive.
CHFI.FIT | @officialCHFI