Why Fundraising is Important for Canada Skateboard

Dear Reader,

I write to you from my desk, looking out at the early autumn rains, wondering when, if ever, I

can skateboard again.

I work for Canada Skateboard, the national sporting organization for skateboarding in Canada.

The work we do centres around supporting, promoting and growing our beloved sport. We

aspire to enable and inspire Canadians to build a lifelong connection to it — to keep pushing — whether it’s ripping in the streets or at a community park, standing on the podium or cheering wildly from the sidelines.

You might wonder why skateboarding is important — why it might be worth your dollars and

attention, and I’m here to tell you exactly why: it changes lives. I have never tried a sport that

requires quite the self-possession, determination and grit that skateboarding does. It is an

individual sport, but at the same time, so deeply communal. It is skate parks and street ledges

and do-it-yourself features at the end of the driveway. It is inclusivity and diversity and new

friends you would have never met otherwise, every walk of life in one place, together. The

culture is rich and deep, built around the notion of wanting to be different, and expressing

yourself through movement, clothing, art and style. It celebrates those things, no matter what

they look like. It is a counter culture turned mainstream, showing youth and adults alike what is possible if you just put your mind to it, commit, and be wholly yourself.

The culture and community of skateboarding in Canada is vast and diverse. From Moncton to

Tofino, we have people passionate and dedicated to the sport that put in hard work and hours

to keep it’s culture alive. Our job as a sporting organization is to support those people — the

ones who spend their precious time off teaching kids how to ollie. The ones who spend

countless unpaid hours putting together events and contests. The ones who take photos,

shoot film, create moments and share memories — if only for a moment of your time. The ones who spend countless hours, time, dollars and energy training to represent our country on the world stage. Our job is to show the world there is a pathway in this, and it is one worth pursuing.

But that job is hard one. How do we support the ones on the front lines, when we barely have

support ourselves? Sporting organizations in Canada are struggling, funding few and far

between and it is purely on the goodwill of our community members and fellow sport-lovers

that we remain in tact. It is with your help that we can show a young girl from a suburban place that she can, in fact, go to the Olympics doing something she loves. It is with your help that we can provide the resources to get those who don’t typically have access a foot in the door. It is with your help that we can skate year-round in indoor facilities when the snow won’t melt and the rain won’t stop. It is with your help that we bring skateboarding to the world stage, and share it’s joy with those who need it.

Right now, Canada’s top skateboarders are gearing up for the World Cup in Tokyo, where they’ll represent our country on the global stage. This event is not just about competition — it’s about showcasing Canadian talent, pushing the sport forward, and inspiring the next generation of skaters.

To make it happen, we’re launching a community-driven fundraiser. Every contribution — big or small — helps cover essential costs like travel, accommodation, and training support.

When you back this campaign, you’re fueling the dreams of athletes who’ve worked tirelessly to put Canadian skateboarding on the world map. Together, we can ensure they arrive in Tokyo ready to skate, represent, and make us proud.

Every donation will be matched by an anonymous donor, up to $15,000.

Donate today and be part of the journey.