Where Olympians Begin

2013 is Our 73rd Legacy Year
From a humble gesture in the 1940’s ~ the Foster Fathers’ Program ~ to a profound legacy in 2013 ~ the Legion National Youth Track & Field Championships, the Legion continues to strengthen and reinforce competitive sports as an effective way to support youth leadership and development.

Considered a key stepping stone to the Olympics, the Legion’s interest in track & field extends back to the early 1940’s  with the WWII Foster Fathers programs, continuing in the 1950’s with support of the Canadian Olympic Training program,  national athlete clinics, and coaching clinics. The success of these early programs has resulted in the Legion’s continued commitment to Canadian youth by funding the current Legion National Youth Track and Field Championships since it’s renaming in 1977.

Foster Fathers’ Program
Following the Second World War, thousands of children were left fatherless. This sparked a call to action for the Legion to come to the aide of these children and so began the Legion’s Foster Fathers’ Program. In addition to providing the basic necessities of life, involvement in community sports helped these young charges to regain their spirit and hope for a brighter future.

To learn about how the Championships evolved over the last century, click here