In a continuing effort to keep tobacco industry products out of sport and recreation and through a grant provided by the Ministry of Health Promotion's Healthy Communities Fund, SPORT4ONTARIO, in collaboration with the Play, Live Be Tobacco-Free (PLBTF) Provincial Collaborative, is pleased to announce Round 3 of the Play, Live, Be Tobacco-Free Grant Program. This grant program provides the opportunity for organizations to apply for grants from $500 to $5,000.00, depending on the scope and reach of the organization, to develop and promote a Tobacco-Free Policy.

Tobacco-free sport and recreation means that everyone taking part in a sport or recreational activity does not use tobacco industry products. It means participants, spectators, coaches and leaders do not smoke, snuff, dip, or chew tobacco while engaged in the activities of your organization. Sport and recreation organizations play a vital role in the health and well-being of our communities.

Non-profit sport and recreation clubs, teams, leagues and organizations wishing to support and promote Tobacco-Free Policy and activities are invited to apply for Round 3 funding. Grants will be awarded based on meeting eligibility criteria and descriptions of how your organization will develop and implement a policy and include/endorse the message Play, Live, Be Tobacco-Free through a variety of educational and promotional activities and /or resources.

For complete details on the Play, Live, Be Tobacco-Free Round 3 Grant Program including the grant guidelines and application form, please refer to the documents on the right hand side of this page. You are strongly encouraged to contact one of the designated contacts listed on page 13 of the grant guidelines before you begin the application process. 

In Round 1, twenty-seven (27) sport and recreation organizations were awarded a $500 Play, Live, Be Tobacco-Free grant and have committed to having a Tobacco-Free Policy in place by July 30, 2010. To view the list of Round 1 grant recipients, click here.

In Round 2, twenty-seven (27) sport and recreation organizations to date have been awarded Play, Live, Be Tobacco-Free grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 and have committed to having a Tobacco-Free Policy in place by Ocotber 1, 2010.  To view the list of Round 2 grant receipients, click here.

A Tobacco-Free Policy strengthens the positive impact your organization has on the health of your community and provides an important message about being tobacco-free to the individuals who are part of your organization. Become a tobacco-free organization and send a clear message that your organization values a tobacco-free lifestyle! We look forward to working with you.

About the Healthy Communities Fund

The Ministry of Health Promotion's Healthy Communities Fund (HCF) is a one-window approach to funding organizations for the delivery of health promotion initiatives related to: physical activity; sport and recreation; healthy eating; tobacco use and exposure; injury prevention; substance & alcohol misuse; and mental health. 

The PLBTF Collaborative is composed of the 7 Tobacco Control Area Networks (TCANs) which involve Ontario's 36 Ontario Public Health Units (PHUs), The Program Training, and Consultation Centre (Cancer Care Ontario), SPORT4ONTARIO, the Coaches Association of Ontario, Physical Activity Resource Centre, Parks and Recreation Ontario, Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) – Smokers’ Helpline, the Ontario Lung Association and the Ontario Chronic Disease Prevention Managers Network.  

SPORT4ONTARIO is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization that provides the collaborative environment, knowledge and resources to build capacity and drive leadership excellence in the Ontario sport community through education, advocacy, interaction, research and innovation.