ParticipACTION Community Challenge 2026
The Town of Hay River is proud to announce that Hay River has been named the Northwest Territories’ Most Active Community in the 2026 ParticipACTION Community Challenge!
This incredible achievement is a reflection of the enthusiasm, energy and commitment of our community. Throughout the challenge, residents of all ages came together to get active, try new activities, participate in local events and make movement a part of their everyday lives.
The Town of Hay River Recreation Department would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in the many activities and events offered throughout the challenge. Whether you attended a Recreation-led program, joined a community event, took part in an activity with friends and family or simply found new ways to get moving, you helped make this achievement possible.
Hay River has once again demonstrated that we are a community that values health, wellness, recreation and, most importantly, coming together.
Congratulations Hay River and thank you for helping us stay active!
From Cabin Radio’s website: https://cabinradio.ca/206356/news/sports/how-hay-river-plans-to-spend-its-100k-national-recreation-prize/
The fifth edition of the ParticipACTION Community Challenge presented by Novo Nordisk, a national physical activity and sport initiative that encourages everyone to get active throughout June, ended with the Town of Hay River being crowned Canada’s Most Active Community and winning the $100,000 grand prize to support local physical activity and sport initiatives.
“On behalf of the Council of the Town of Hay River, I would like to highlight the tremendous impact the ParticipACTION Community Challenge has had on our community this year. With over forty organizations tracking events, hundreds or participants and thousands of hours of activity, a significant portion of the community came together with a common fitness goal that they knocked out of the park! Once again, Hay River has demonstrated its ability to punch above its weight as a hub of recreation! I thank ParticipACTION, all participants and especially the Town of Hay River’s Recreation Department who demonstrated outstanding leadership through their encouragement, support and outreach to the community.” – Mayor Kandis Jameson, Hay River, NT
“The Recreation Department is so proud of our community for their involvement and engagement in this challenge! Hay River demonstrated their unstoppable spirit once again, with community members, sports groups and community groups all rallying to register participants and track their activities. We thank everyone who participated in the challenge alongside our Department of Recreation staff and we look forward to continuing to offer quality recreation programming to our community.” – Courtney Fraser, Recreation Programming Supervisor, Hay River, NT
