Climbing Escalade Canada is pleased to announce that CEC has been approved by Sport Canada for the equivalent of two Senior National Card allocations through the Athlete Assistance Program for the 2026–2027 carding period.
This marks an important milestone for Canadian climbing. It is the first time CEC has received an annual carding allocation through Sport Canada’s Athlete Assistance Program. Previous AAP support for climbing was provided to Canadian Olympic-qualified athletes Sean McColl and Alannah Yip in connection with Olympic qualification.
CEC has been approved for a 12-month carding cycle from February 2027 to February 2028, as well as an additional four-month cycle from October 2026 to January 2027.
The Athlete Assistance Program, often referred to as “carding,” is a Sport Canada program designed to support high-performance Canadian athletes as they train and compete toward world-class performances. AAP support helps relieve some of the financial pressures associated with international sport, allowing athletes to better combine training, competition, education, and work commitments while pursuing excellence.
For CEC, this allocation represents a significant step in the continued development of Canada’s high-performance climbing system. As climbing continues to grow within the Olympic program, annual AAP carding provides an important tool to support athletes who are progressing toward international performance targets and long-term podium potential.
CEC will now finalize and publish its sport-specific AAP nomination criteria and related timelines. Athletes will be nominated by CEC according to approved criteria, with final approval resting with Sport Canada under the Athlete Assistance Program policies and procedures.
CEC thanks Sport Canada for its continued support of Canadian high-performance sport and looks forward to using this new allocation to strengthen the pathway for Canada’s top climbing athletes.
