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, 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 momentum now is in working together to connect them, scale them, and activate them.
CHFI’s Vice-Regal Patron, the Governor General, contributed welcome greetings to the program. In person, speakers included the Honourable Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport); ambassadors and senior diplomatic representatives; Indigenous sport and health leaders; local officials; civil society leaders; and Members of Parliament from all five federal parties, who jointly co-hosted the opening reception.
The following are the highlights from this momentous gathering.
Five Events in Two Days. Two community walk/runs—one in the morning and one in the afternoon—launched Monday’s activities, led by renowned coaches Pierre Lafontaine, Phil Marsh, and Sue Holloway. MP Gabriel Hardy’s Power House / Chambre Forte initiative, produced independently in partnership with CHFI, brought exercise equipment onto Parliament Hill, where he worked out for seven hours alongside colleagues, influencers, and people on the Hill. That evening, a reception co-hosted by MPs from all five federal parties formally opened the Summit. Tuesday’s full day of presentations was hosted by the RA Centre and its House of Sport, home to 44 member organisations advancing sport and physical activity. RA Centre CEO Ian Fraser welcomed participants and helped anchor the final ecosystem discussion.
Federal and International Perspectives. Secretary of State (Sport) Adam van Koeverden spoke to the Federal Government’s $755-million commitment to sport and its broader implications for physical activity, participation, and proactive health. Norway, Finland, and Australia offered practical examples of how movement, outdoor life, prevention, and wellbeing can be built into culture and policy. Australia highlighted the link between children’s digital lives, movement, sleep, and health, including under-16 social media restrictions and updated national guidelines on activity, sedentary behaviour, screen time, and sleep.
Civil Society, Local Government, and Indigenous Sport and Health. ParticipACTION’s new CEO, Brian Torrance, and author Larry McCloskey spoke to the indispensable role of civil society. Dr. Janice Forsyth, Vice-President of the Aboriginal Sport Circle, spoke to the importance of Indigenous-led sport, physical activity, and recreation, including the national strategy, The Spirit of Sport: Active Together. Deputy Mayor Jeff Leiper brought the local lens to life, describing himself as a “365-day cyclist” and reminding participants that movement is shaped by the streets, routes, neighbourhoods, and public spaces people use every day.
From Awareness to Action. A strong message throughout the Summit was that physical activity is not the purview of any one system. It belongs to all of us—governments, communities, schools, workplaces, families, organisations, health leaders, and civil society. Change must start early, including in schools, and participation must be designed for belonging, accessibility, encouragement, and people at every age, stage, and ability. More than half of adults in Canada aren’t meeting the recommended 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each week, underscoring the need for practical, inclusive, community-based solutions.
On Advocacy Day, CHFI advocates met one-on-one with MPs and Senators around three requests: champion National Health and Fitness Day on June 6, and National Indigenous Physical Activity Awareness Week; support a National Cycling Strategy; and activate Let’s Move Canada and the Community Hub in communities across the country.
Join the Movement. Join the Let’s Move Canada / Canada Actif Community Hub, take part in the June Challenge, celebrate National Health and Fitness Day on June 6, and help build a country that is physically, mentally, and spiritually healthier at CHFI.FIT.
Readers are invited to join the Let’s Move Canada / Canada Actif Community Hub.
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