By: Julia Lewis

Last week on May 12th, the Canadian Street Soccer Association proudly to celebrated being recognized as a 2026 Toronto Community Champion alongside an inspiring group of organizations making a meaningful impact across the city.

Earlier this year, on April 23rd, the City of Toronto, together with United Way Greater Toronto, announced the 25 recipients of this year’s Toronto Community Champion Award. The CSSA team were deeply honoured to be included among them and recognized by Mayor Olivia Chow at Toronto City Council.

This recognition means a great deal to our team. It reflects not only the work we do, but also the communities we work alongside every day. We are especially grateful to the community members who nominated CSSA. To be recognized through lived experience and community voice makes this honour particularly meaningful.

Now in its fourth year, the Toronto Community Champion Award recognizes organizations advancing equity, inclusion, and social connection while supporting the health, well-being, and resilience of Toronto residents. In addition to the award itself, recipients are celebrated through storytelling initiatives, public recognition, and continued support for their work in the community.

Alex Zsager, Program Coordinator for CSSA Toronto, shared:

“On behalf of CSSA and all our wonderful volunteers and staff, it is an honour to be receiving this award for the exceptional work that we do. This recognition reflects our commitment to continue bringing communities and organizations together through sports and empowering marginalized individuals to rebuild their lives through not only sports but connecting with health, housing, education, employment opportunities and and much more. Thank you Mayor Chow and the City of Toronto for this great honour.”

At its core, this recognition belongs to the CSSA Toronto team, players and the community that continues to shape and support the work. It reflects the consistency, compassion, and commitment shown every day to create spaces where people feel seen, supported, and connected.

As Mayor Olivia Chow shared:

“Toronto’s strength comes from the people and organizations who show up for their communities every day. This award recognizes the incredible work happening across our city to build connection, advance equity and support those who need it most. Congratulations to this year’s recipients and thank you for helping build a safe, affordable and caring city that is Toronto.”

We also want to acknowledge Chris Moise, City Councillor for Ward 13, for consistently uplifting grassroots organizations and recognizing the impact community-led initiatives are making across the city. A sincere thank you as well to the City’s partners, including United Way Greater Toronto and Enbridge Gas, for supporting this program and helping ensure community-driven work continues to be valued and strengthened.

CSSA is proud to stand alongside so many organizations doing meaningful work across Toronto, and remains committed to growing programs that foster health, belonging, and opportunity across Toronto, Mississauga, and Brampton.

Looking Ahead

As we gather today to celebrate, this moment serves as both recognition and reflection.

It honours the work already happening within our communities while reinforcing the importance of continuing to build spaces rooted in dignity, connection, and opportunity.

We are grateful to be part of this collective effort, and we look forward to continuing the work together.