On Feb. 9, 2026, the Alberta government announced it is investing $3 million through the 2025 Active Communities Initiative to support two major year‑round sport and recreation projects in Edmonton. The funding is intended to increase access to all‑season play and support indoor infrastructure for sports such as basketball and hockey, which often face capacity shortages for court and ice time during the winter.
The investment is part of the Active Communities Initiative, a provincial program that helps eligible community organizations retrofit, renew, expand or build small‑to‑medium public sport and recreation facilities. The Tourism and Sport ministry says the grants are designed to help people stay active and healthy in their own neighbourhoods regardless of the weather.
The announcement has drawn attention in Central Alberta. City of Lacombe officials, Lacombe County and the Town of Blackfalds are jointly exploring a tri‑municipal regional recreation facility, and local stakeholders say the province’s recent Edmonton investments signal that the Active Communities Initiative is an active funding stream they could pursue. Local non‑profit groups such as the Lacombe Athletic Park Association (LAPA) could be eligible to apply for ACI capital grants to help fund indoor training space, though municipalities themselves are listed as ineligible under the program.
Minister of Tourism and Sport Andrew Boitchenko said the provincial government wants residents to have access to modern, multi‑use facilities that keep communities vibrant. Under the Active Communities Initiative, provincial grant funding cannot exceed 50% of a project’s total cost, so applicants are expected to secure matching funds or other contributions to complete projects.
