Ice Climbing Canada: Building the System First

Inception to Present

In a world where most sports grow only after funding, we’re doing something different. We’re building first. Then we’ll ask for the support.

We’re not waiting for permission. We’re not waiting for status. We’re building a national sport system right now, fuelled by community, and the belief that this sport matters.

Where We Are

Competitive ice climbing isn’t new, but until recently, Canada didn’t have a functioning system. That’s changed.

We now have:

A growing National Team that has doubled in size in two seasons
A Youth Team with athletes from Alberta and British Columbia
Weekly youth programming in Edmonton and active pilot programs in Vancouver and soon with Quebec
An international training camp with 32 athletes from Canada and the U.S.
Our first national tryout event, held at Climb YEG, with strong athlete turnout and performance tracking

And we’re just getting started.

What We've Built

National Athlete Pathway

Adult Team: Growing each year; strong return rate and new talent joining
Youth Participation: 98 Alberta youth engaged in 2025 alone
Team Tryouts: Hosted with real evaluation standards, video review, and selection transparency
Structured Programs: Clinics, open climbs, skill blocks, mock comps, and progression pathways
Coach Development: Building Canadian systems for coach education and mentorship

Infrastructure Footprint

Edmonton (Climb YEG): Home to Canada’s first permanent UIAA-style training wall
Calgary: Planning in motion for a second major Alberta hub by 2026
Vancouver: Pilot programming with Climb Base5 underway
Lethbridge: Fully scoped but currently on pause due to regional prioritization
Ontario: Over 60 events hosted by DryToolNight; permanent venue under discussion
Quebec: Multi-gym tour and festival weekend planned for November 2025

Governance & Systems

Selection Framework: Transparent, documented athlete selection policy
Youth Strategy: Regional planning, coordinated rollouts, and grassroots mentorship
National Tracking System: Public-facing athlete and event dashboards in development
Communications Backbone: Built with Notion and supported by Alpine Club of Canada

The Momentum So Far

Here’s what the numbers tell us in 2025:

Metric	Progress
Alberta Youth Reached	98
Adult National Team Growth	2× in 2 years
Youth Team Athletes	7 (6 AB, 1 BC)
National Camp Attendance	32 (Canada + USA)
Venues	1 permanent, 1 planned, 4+ pilot/partnered
Events in Ontario	60+
Gym Engagement	Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Quebec
Tryouts	Held in September 2025 with adult + youth turnout

The Realities

We’ve come far—but there’s no sugarcoating it. The path isn’t easy.

Shortfalls & Pressure Points:

No NSO Status = No Federal Funding

We’re doing full national sport organization work without recognition or resourcing.

Volunteer Overload

A national system is being built off passion and after-hours effort. It's not sustainable long term.

Facility Gaps

Edmonton is carrying the load; Calgary is coming—but most regions lack permanent infrastructure.

Uneven Access

Youth want to train, but access depends on where you live. Equity demands more venues.

Content Bandwidth

Athletes and stakeholders need to help tell our story. Visibility drives support.

What’s Next

In the Next 12 Months, We Will:

Expand Programming

Run fall and winter youth blocks in Edmonton
Launch Calgary with 40–60 youth in Year 1
Activate Quebec through a 6-gym tour
Strengthen BC presence at Climb Base5

Build the Pathway

Host annual tryouts
Develop a domestic coaching certification pipeline
Train Canadian officials and route setters to reduce future international costs

Measure What Matters

Track participants, retention, and venue utilization
Report on progress quarterly to stay transparent and accountable

Push the System Forward

Formalize Ice Climbing Canada as the flagship program under the Alpine Club of Canada
Advocate for a Pre-NSO Bridge Fund to support emerging Olympic sports like ours
Engage MPs and Sport Canada for a seat at the funding table

Why This Matters

Climbing helped me recover my identity. It gave me breath when I couldn’t breathe, and purpose when I didn’t have any left.

That’s why I lead this.

That’s why I coach.

That’s why I build.

We don’t need gold medals to justify our existence—we need opportunity, structure, and community. And we’ve proven that with little, we can do a lot.

Now imagine what we could do with the full system behind us.

What You Can Do

Athletes → Show up, share content, tell your story. This is your team.
Gyms → Open your doors. We’ll bring the coaches, clinics, and community.
Supporters → Volunteer, donate, or sponsor a youth. It matters.
Decision-Makers → See us. Meet with us. Support the next generation of Olympic athletes.

We’re not building a hobby—we’re building a national sport. One tool placement at a time.

Jonathan Blackwood, Ice Climbing Canada Chair.

Not waiting for permission. Building anyway.