Canada
While not at the level of the US, Canadian universities offer a competitive and highly skilled, athletic environment with which student-athletes can participate in sport.
The national sport governing body for universities in Canada is called U Sports, comprising the majority of degree-granting universities in the country and overseeing four regional conferences: Ontario University Athletics, Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec, Canada West, and Atlantic University Sport. Over 15,000 student-athletes compete at 57 schools in those four conferences. Note that students-athletes in Canada have 5 years of eligibility.
In terms of athletic scholarship opportunities, Canadian universities do award scholarships or Athletic Financial Awards (AFA). These awards while limited can equal the total of tuition and mandatory fees for a student's academic year although some conferences can be more restrictive. This is the maximum amount a athlete could receive but note this full amount would not be the norm. Fortunately. an athletic scholarship ca nalso be combined with academic scholarships a student-athlete might be able to receive at lreast in their first year.
It is important to note that in the Canadian system, in terms of terminology, a "full-ride scholarship" means that your tuition fees will be fully paid for. Anything billed by the university, such as textbooks, will be covered too. Tuition plus mandatory fees is the maximum coverage a student can receive in Canada; housing and other living expenses cannot be paid for.
The reality is scholarships will be limited to international students compared to students who are Canadian citizens. For example, it is possible that a particular team at a particular university will only be able to offer scholarships to 1 or 2 International students where for Canadian citizens there would be more opportunities.
However, keep in mind that receiving an athletic scholarship is just the beginning. You must continue to work hard and perform well in both academics and athletics to maintain your scholarship. You must also follow the USports rules and regulations regarding amateurism and eligibility. In addition, remember that athletic scholarships are not guaranteed for the entire duration of your program. You must continue to meet the eligibility criteria set by the university or college and perform well in your sport to continue receiving your scholarship.
Please note that for many sports, at many Canadian universities, there are often opportunities to "walk on" and tryout for a varsity sport after arriving at your university. So, if one is not successful in terms of official recruitment while you are in high school, you might be able to "make the team" through a tryout, similar to how to went to tryouts to make your varsity sport(s) here at ISB. As you can imagine, some teams will be much harder to make than others as a "walk on" as there may or may not be many open spots that a coach needs to fill once the university year has started.
THE CONFERENCES EXPLAINED
Ontario University Athletics (OUA)
This conference governs intercollegiate competition for 20 universities in the province of Ontario. This would includes universities such as University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, McMaster University and Queen's University.
Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec
This conference governs intercollegiate competition for 9 universities in the province of Quebec. This would includes universities such as McGill University, Concordia University and Bishop's University.
Canada West
This conference governs intercollegiate competition for 17 universities in the western provinces of Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia). This would includes universities such as University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University and University of British Columbia (UBC).
Atlantic University Sport
This conference governs intercollegiate competition for 11 universities in the eastern provinces of Canada (Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island). This would includes universities such as Dalhousie University, St. Mary's University and Mount Allison University.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO BE ELIGIBLE?
ALL recruits or prospective U SPORTS student-athletes, in ALL sports, are required to register on U SPORTS Central. This includes recruits or prospective student-athletes in (M/W) basketball, (M/W) cross country, (M/W) curling, (W) field hockey, (M) football, (M/W) hockey, (W) rugby, (M/W) soccer, (M/W) swimming, (M/W) track & field, (M/W) volleyball, and (M/W) wrestling.
Each student-athlete will have to register only once in their lifetime. When a student-athlete has registered on U SPORTS Central, that profile will cover all of that individual’s U SPORTS activities, including participation in multiple sports, if applicable.
Student-athletes can register as early in their high school careers as they see fit. In the sport of football, a prospective student-athlete must register with U SPORTS Central prior to making an offical visit to a U SPORTS member institution. In all other sports, a prospective student-athlete must register with U SPORTS Central prior to becoming a confirmed recruit (including signing a Letter of Intent), or before competing for a U SPORTS member institution.
In short, if you want to participate in U SPORTS competition, you must be registered on U SPORTS Central.
HOW DO I GET RECRUITED BY COACHES?
Research the Universities and Colleges
Start by researching the universities and colleges that you are interested in both in terms of their academic fit and athletic fit.
Continue to Develop your Skills and Abilities in BOTH your Athletics and Academics
Your have to be strong in your sport BUT also, Athletics and Admissions are very separate entities. Regardless of how good of an athlete you are, it will not influence your your admission to the university. You need to be accepted by the university in the same manner as everyone else who is applying.
Let your University Counselor know your Athletic Goals in Canada
In many cases there is an Athletic Liaison Officer who is the bridge between Athletics at the university and the Admissions department. Your university counselors can find that information out and help begin that communication process. Sometimes the Liaison officer will provide some forms for you to fill out to help communicate your strengths/abilities to the respective coach. At some point, after the initial contact and communication with the Liaison officer, the coach may contact you (if interested) for more follow up.
Directly Contact the Coaches
It is also OK to contact the coaches of the universities and colleges you are interested in and express your interest in their sports programs via email. You can provide them with your athletic resume and highlight your achievements, skills, and talents in your sport. A template of an introductory email is located here. A template of an athletic resume is located here.
Attend the Tryouts and Recruiting Events
If and where possible, attend tryouts and recruiting events to showcase your skills and talents to coaches. If you are not sure where these events might be taking place, that could be a question you ask in the introductory email. These events are an excellent opportunity to get noticed by coaches and increase your chances of receiving an athletic scholarship.
Apply for Admission
Once you have been identified as a potential scholarship candidate/athletic recruit, you must also apply for admission to the university or college. Make sure you meet the admission requirements and submit all the required documents on time.
Wait for the Admission Results AND and Commitment Offer Letter
As a recruit you need to have an acceptance to the university (sent form the university) and a commitment offer letter (sent from the coach) which confirms your secured spot on the team. Those two elements may or may not come at the same time.
Please see here for a Recruits and Prospective Student-Athletes Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)