Closed
Financial Assistance Program for Recreational and Sports Facilities (PAFIRS)
Supports development and renovation of recreational and sports facilities
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Funding available
$ 28,000,000
Timeline
- Closing date : March 31, 2025
Location
Quebec, Canada
Overview
The Financial Assistance Program for Recreational and Sports Facilities (PAFIRS) provided up to $28 million per project to support the construction, renovation, or upgrading of public recreational and sports infrastructure in Quebec under the Canada-Quebec Integrated Bilateral Agreement. The program aimed to improve the availability and accessibility of quality recreational and sports facilities through activities such as construction, expansion, development, or modernization of eligible infrastructure.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Reduce environmental footprint
- Renovate or expand facilities
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 28,000,000 $
- Up to 66% of project cost
Timeline
- Closing date : March 31, 2025
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Public administration
Location
- Quebec
Legal structures
- Financial cooperative
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- Non-financial cooperative
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Language Minorities
- Rural or Northern Residents
- Canadians
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Culture and Arts
- Sports
- Other Recreation and Social Clubs
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Diversity and Inclusion
Target groups
- General public
- Children & youth
- Indigenous peoples
- People with disabilities
- Rural / Remote communities
- Low-income individuals / families
- Minority groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Local
- Municipal
- Regional
- Provincial
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Construction of new recreational or sports infrastructure.
- Renovation or upgrading of existing recreational or sports facilities.
- Expansion or redevelopment of current recreational or sports installations.
- Modernization to bring existing facilities up to current standards and codes.
- Reconfiguration, adaptation, or conversion of recreational and sports amenities to improve accessibility or usability.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Municipal organizations
- Non-profit organizations primarily active in recreation and sports
- Solidarity cooperatives
- Indigenous organizations, including recognized First Nations and Inuit authorities, certain non-profit organizations serving Indigenous communities, and qualifying educational or healthcare institutions for Indigenous populations
Who is not eligible
- Organizations listed in the Register of Enterprises Ineligible for Public Contracts (RENA).
- Organizations that failed to fulfill obligations under a previous government grant within the past two years.
- School boards, CEGEPs, and universities, except those meeting specific Indigenous support criteria.
- Organizations considered "other than budgetary" as listed in Annex 2 of the Financial Administration Act.
Eligible expenses
- Costs related to the development, construction, redevelopment, reconstruction, renovation, conversion, and upgrading of an eligible recreation or sports facility.
- Surveying fees at the project site.
- Quality control costs at the construction site.
- Costs for environmental impact mitigation and correction measures required by governments.
- Costs associated with integrating artwork into a building or site in accordance with the applicable government policy.
- Expenses for manufacturing and installing permanent identification plaques acknowledging government contributions.
- Non-recoverable taxes related to eligible direct costs.
- Professional fees for recognized professionals for project design (plans and specifications, cost estimation), supervision, or project management.
- Costs for greenhouse gas emissions and climate resilience assessments, where required.
- Non-recoverable taxes related to eligible incidental expenses.
Eligible geographic areas
- Quebec
Additional information
- All supported projects must publicly acknowledge the financial contribution of the Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada during and after project completion.
- A permanent identification plaque, approved by the Ministry, must be installed on the infrastructure upon project completion.
- The Ministry reserves the right to conduct audits and verifications for up to three years after the agreement ends or all disputes are resolved.
- In the event of project or agreement termination, repayment of a portion or the entirety of the financial assistance may be required, based on the elapsed time since project completion.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Financial Assistance Program for Recreational and Sports Facilities (PAFIRS) Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Financial Assistance Program for Recreational and Sports Facilities (PAFIRS). This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the Financial Assistance Program for Recreational and Sports Facilities (PAFIRS)?
The Financial Assistance Program for Recreational and Sports Facilities (PAFIRS) provided up to $28 million per project to support the construction, renovation, or upgrading of public recreational and sports infrastructure in Quebec under the Canada-Quebec Integrated Bilateral Agreement. The program aimed to improve the availability and accessibility of quality recreational and sports facilities through activities such as construction, expansion, development, or modernization of eligible infrastructure.
How much funding can be received?
Financial Assistance Program for Recreational and Sports Facilities (PAFIRS) Funds up to 66% of admissible expenses, capped at $28,000,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Financial Assistance Program for Recreational and Sports Facilities (PAFIRS) program?
To be eligible for the Financial Assistance Program for Recreational and Sports Facilities (PAFIRS) program, you must:
Must be a municipal organization, non-profit organization (OBNL), solidarity cooperative, or eligible Indigenous entity.
Must be owner or emphyteutic lessee (minimum 10 years) of the infrastructure and land for the project.
Must demonstrate capacity to operate and maintain infrastructure for at least 10 years after project completion.
What expenses are eligible under Financial Assistance Program for Recreational and Sports Facilities (PAFIRS)?
Construction of new recreational or sports infrastructure.
Renovation or upgrading of existing recreational or sports facilities.
Expansion or redevelopment of current recreational or sports installations.
Modernization to bring existing facilities up to current standards and codes.
Reconfiguration, adaptation, or conversion of recreational and sports amenities to improve accessibility or usability.
Who can I contact for more information about the Financial Assistance Program for Recreational and Sports Facilities (PAFIRS)?
You can contact Gouvernment of Québec by email at fonds-fdsap@education.gouv.qc.ca or by phone at 1-866-747-6626.
Where is the Financial Assistance Program for Recreational and Sports Facilities (PAFIRS) available?
The Financial Assistance Program for Recreational and Sports Facilities (PAFIRS) program is available the province of Quebec.
Is the Financial Assistance Program for Recreational and Sports Facilities (PAFIRS) a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Financial Assistance Program for Recreational and Sports Facilities (PAFIRS) is a Grant and Funding