Policy

At Alberta Ballet, we see the numbers — and the stories — behind the drop in girls’ participation as they enter adolescence. In many of our programs, the shift is striking: girls who once danced, played, and moved with confidence begin stepping back.

This isn’t unique to us — research confirms that adolescent girls across Canada disengage from physical activity at significantly higher rates than boys. It’s not a loss of interest. It’s the accumulation of barriers — some visible, like safety concerns or lack of access, and others less obvious, like subtle social pressures, program designs that don’t meet their needs, or environments that don’t reflect their identities.

Through the #ActiveGirlsCampaign, we’re joining forces with partners in sport, arts, education, and health to address these challenges at their root. By engaging in policy discussions and sharing insights from our own work, we help uncover and dismantle the less visible obstacles to girls’ participation.

We push for:

• Safer, girl-centered movement spaces

• Culturally relevant and accessible programs

• Inclusive representation and gender-sensitive design

• Cross-sector partnerships to break down access barriers

• Public awareness to normalize diverse forms of movement across all identities

To learn more about the coalition supporting this campaign, visit #ActiveGirlsCampaign.