Sport Canada currently supports a network of Canadian Sport Centres across Canada in order to enhance the training environment for high performance stream athletes. This system is viewed as a major vehicle to achieve the objective of enhancing the level and increasing the efficiency of delivery of services for high performance athletes and coaches.

The Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation (ASRPWF) in support of Sport Canada’s plan are pursuing the creation of a Provincial network that will provide support for inter-provincial emerging athletes. It is hoped that these Regional Centres will provide a vital stepping stone for the emerging Provincial athlete to excel to the National ranks and train at the National Sport Centre’s.

Currently, the ASRPWF is supporting Regional Sport Centre in Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Edmonton and Lethbridge within the province of Alberta. All of the Centers will strive to have development of sport science application initiatives and coach development programs for athletes. Lastly, all of the Centres are affiliated with the National Sport Centre in Calgary.

The Centres efforts focus on the developing sport science application initiatives, high performance training of emerging athletes, coaches and sport leaders and providing good leadership and organizational practices. The shared vision is that of a collective approach, providing sport science support in an athlete centered structure, will result in improved emerging athlete development in Northwestern Alberta.

ASDC supports the idea of a holistic training approach to reach optimal athletic potential for any athlete. By combining sport science applications with support from experts in nutrition, sport psychology and injury prevention, athletes build an ideal environment for optimum development and performance in athletics and their personal life.

History of Centres in Grande Prairie

In the Fall of 1995, a Multi Sport Development Centre was established in Grande Prairie and located at Grande Prairie Regional College. This Centre benefited thousands of athletes, coaches and officials in this area but unfortunately due to financial circumstances came to an end in June 2005. The Alberta Sport Development Centre Northwest (ASDCNW) came into being in September 2006 and is a regional training facility that offers programs and services to emerging and elite athletes and coaches throughout the Northwest region of Alberta. The first Executive Director was Chris Shoults and he was extremely successful in establishing this Centre within this region.