THE PROBLEM

Little Burgundy is a neighborhood full of culture, history, and resilience—but also marked by deep inequities.

It has one of the highest concentrations of public housing (HLMs) in all of Montreal. Nearly 39% of all housing units in Little Burgundy are subsidized, and the area has historically had among the highest rates of welfare recipients in the city.

Single-parent families, mostly led by women, make up nearly 30% of all households. The average income for a single-parent family is just $35,000/year, compared to almost $96,000 for two-parent families in the same borough. This economic gap impacts kids first.

Sports—which should be a basic childhood experience—become a luxury. Organized sports in Montreal can cost families $2,500 per year per child, and for some disciplines, costs can climb as high as $500/month.

That means kids in Little Burgundy, even those with raw talent and passion, are being benched by poverty.

And when youth don’t have access to safe, structured outlets like sports, it shows. Montreal’s high school dropout rate sits at 19.3%, and young people who disengage from school and community programs are more vulnerable to violence, gangs, and exploitation.

But sports isn’t just a “nice to have.”

Research from Sport Canada shows that kids involved in regular physical activity:

• Show higher academic performance
  
  

• Are 15% more likely to graduate high school
  
  

• Develop leadership, teamwork, and goal-setting skills that translate into careers and civic life
  
  

Participation in sports also builds stronger mental health, reduces anxiety, and creates a sense of belonging—especially for racialized youth navigating systemic barriers.

In Little Burgundy, where challenges are real, sports can be a lifeline.