Canadians are known for their athletic aptitude, especially on the ice. The country is full of opportunities to hike, skate, and play ball. There are both informal community groups, and world-quality professional teams.

Sport Canada generally directs (or at least co-ordinates) federal activity in sports. Provinces will often focus on student athletics, as it falls more clearly in an area of provincial jurisdiction (that being education)

Professional & Recreational Sports

Ice Hockey

Simply referred to as "hockey", this is Canada's most prevalent winter sport and most popular spectator sport. It is also the country's most successful sport in international competition. Hockey Canada is the country wide site for national competitions, stats, and more.

The Montréal Canadiens (Les Canadiens de Montréal) are the city's professional ice hockey team. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). Founded in 1909, the Canadiens are the longest continuously operating professional ice hockey team and the only existing NHL club to predate the founding of the NHL. The Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup more times than any other franchise. The team competes at the Bell Centre.

Canadian Football

Football is Canada's second most popular spectator sport. Similar to American football, the two sports have shared origins and are closely related, but have significant differences like that there are 12 players on the field per team in Canadian football rather than 11 in the US. The Canadian Football League (CFL) is the national league with information on teams and games.

The Montréal Alouettes (Les Alouettes de Montréal) are commonly known as the Als. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Alouettes play their regular season home games at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium and their home playoff games at Olympic Stadium.

Basketball

Basketball is a popular recreational sport and professional sport. Details can be found at Basketball Canada.

Lacrosse

This is Canada's oldest and official summer sport. It is quite popular with the regulating body of the Canadian Lacrosse Association (CLA). Montréal lacrosse administers the local leagues.

Soccer

Known as soccer in both English and French, this sport has the most registered players of any team sport in Canada.

Soccer Montréal is a recreational sports league for active people in and around Montréal.

The Montréal Impact (Impact de Montréal) is the professional soccer team for Montréal. They compete in Major League Soccer (MLS). Montréal play its home games at Saputo Stadium.

Curling

Curling is an unusual sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area which is segmented into four rings. It has the nickname of "Chess On Ice". The Canadian Curling Association moderates the sport.

The Royal Montréal Curling Club was founded in 1807, The Royal Montréal Curling Club is the oldest active athletic club in North America.

Rugby

Canadian Rugby

Rugby is another popular sport in Canada. Rugby Canada covers the national team, super league, and national championships. It covers refereeing, coaching and news from Canada's governing rugby body.

Fédération de Rugby du Québec, or Rugby Québec, is a provincial governing body for the sport of rugby union in the Canadian province of Québec.

Gym

Montréal has a variety of gyms to choose from. There are state-of-the-art facilities and stimulating classes. In addition, many of the larger hotels have swimming pools and fitness centers that may allow for outside membership. Another low-cost option is Montréal's universities. Expect to pay membership fees of $35-60 per month. Pilates and yoga studios usually run closer to $100 per month.

Decide what aspects matter to you:
• Do you want to have a gym with free-weights or machines, or both?
• Do you want a gym that offers alternative classes such as aerobics, martial arts lessons, step classes, etc.?
• Do you want a gym that has swimming, sauna, and jacuzzi facilities?
• Do you want a single-sex or mixed gym environment?

Gyms:
• Concordia University Gyms - Offers a superb value on either the downtown or Loyola campus.
• Aerobie Plus - Membership includes unlimited access to cardio and weight training facilities with the option for classes in aerobics, yoga, hip-hop dance, pilates, spinning, body building, baladi, aero salsa and Thai boxing classes.
• Body Quest Gym - Decent value for well-known commercial health centres. Payment options are flexible in this large facility.
• Goodlife Fitness - This club offers great introductory deals and multiple clubs and classes.
• YMCA Québec - This popular low-key gym has multiple locations and provides rates on a sliding scale. The Y is a charitable organization with a mission to enhance community life. There is also a volunteer program that offers discounts and the chance to meet people.

Sporting Events

The Montréal Bike Fest encompasses three separate events, including the Tour de L'ile, the Tour la Nuit and the Metropolitan Challenge. It is held from late May to early June.

Canadian Grand Prix (abbreviated as GPC), is an annual auto race held in Canada starting in 1961. It has been part of the Formula One World Championship since 1967. The race is held on Île Notre-Dame in Montréal.

The Montréal Marathon is part of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series. Held in mid-September, it offers a 10 km, 5 km, and 1 KM Kids Marathon.

The Stanley Cup (La Coupe Stanley) is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. The Montréal Canadiens have won the Cup a record 24 times and are currently the last Canadian-based team in the NHL to win the cup after winning it in 1993.

The Grey Cup (La Coupe Grey) is the name of both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is contested between the winners of the CFL's East and West Divisional playoffs and is one of Canadian television's largest annual sporting events. It is hosted in different cities each year and has been held in Montréal 8 times.

Stadiums

Montréal Olympic Stadium
Address: 4549 av. Pierre de Coubertin, Montréal, QC H1V 3N7
Telephone: 1 514 790-1245
This stadium was built for the 1976 Summer Olympic Games in Montréal. After the Olympics the stadium was used for the purpose of providing a facility to young athletes. Formerly the home of the Montréal Expos, the stadium now serves as a venue for major events such as concerts and competitions.

Bell Centre
Address: 1260 De la Gauchetière Ouest, Montréal, Québec H3B 5E8
Telephone: 1 514 790-1245
This is home to the NHL franchise team Montréal Canadiens. They won the Stanley Cup Playoffs four years in a row during the 1956-1960 seasons. The centre also hosts concerts, musicals and other special events.

Saputo Stadium
Address: 4750 Rue Sherbrooke Est
This is a soccer-specific stadium opened on May 21, 2008. It is the home of the Montréal Impact. The stadium is built on the former practice track and field site on the grounds of the 1976 Summer Olympics.

Arena Maurice-Richard
Address: 2800, rue Viau, Montréal, QC H1V 3J3
Telephone: 1 514 872-6666
Dedicated to hometown hockey hero Maurice "the Rocket" Richard, this arena includes a multi-media exhibition on the life of the Montréal Canadien. Entrance to the arena is free and there is a souvenir shop on site. Formerly home to the Montréal Rockets, the city's Major Junior Hockey League team, the ice rink is now used for training by speed and figure skaters.

Stade Uniprix
Address: 285, rue Faillon Ouest, Montréal, QC, H2R 2W1
Telephone: 1 514 273-1515
Formerly known as Parc Jarry, The park features a number of interior and exterior tennis courts, soccer fields and baseball fields.

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