Website Manager

Little League Canada

About us

Little League was first chartered in Canada in 1951 and was the first International Little League charter ever granted.

Little League® Baseball and Softball is played in approximately 6,500 communities across more than 80 countries around the world, but regardless of where they are played, each of them share the same core mission. Little League believes in the power of youth baseball and softball to teach life lessons that build stronger individuals and communities. Joined together by one common goal, every local league is part of One Team. One Little League.

Volunteers give their time to provide a healthy and wholesome, family oriented activity for the children of their community. Little League Baseball Canada has only two employees. The managers, coaches, league administrators, etc. are all volunteers from within the Canadian Community. 

Little League Worldwide is the World’s Largest Organized Youth Sports Program with Millions of Players and More than One Million Adult Volunteers.

There are more than 35,000 youth in Canada who are part of Little League Baseball Canada and who play baseball, softball and challenger during the spring and summer. They are supported by more than 100,000 parents, relatives and people of their communities, big and small. Imagine! Almost 150,000 or more Canadians involved each year in sports that brings out the best in all of us.

Little League Canada History

Little League Baseball has been played in Canada since 1951, with the location of the first leagues chartered outside of the United States in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and Vancouver, British Columbia. Since that time the program has spread right across Canada, and at present there are over 30,000 boys and girls playing Little League Baseball in Canada, in some 200 leagues. In 1952 Montreal, Quebec was the first foreign entry in the Little League World Series.

The western provinces participated in tournament play with American teams in the Western Region until 1965. In 1953, Little Mountain Little League, Vancouver, B.C. advanced to the World Series as representative of the Western Region.

At the 1957 International Congress in Houston, Texas, Mr. Peter J. McGovern, President & Chairman of the Board of Directors, Little League Baseball , Inc., announced the appointment of Commander John P. Singleton R.C.N. (Retired) as Director General of Little League Baseball Canada, with an office in Ottawa, Ontario. In 1969, the Gyro Club of Ottawa constructed a Little League stadium and office building on land leased from the City of Ottawa. Canadian headquarters continues to operate out of the building which was sold to the City of Ottawa in 1977, and leased to the Ottawa Little League District Association.

In June, 1971, John Singleton retired as Director General due to health reasons. Mrs. Gladys Anderson was appointed Canadian Coordinator and Secretary of the Canadian Region.

The first Canadian Congress for Little League Baseball in Canada was held in Ottawa, April 28-30, 1972, with purpose of forming a Canadian organization with affiliation to International Headquarters in Williamsport, Pa. A Provisional Board of Directors was elected, chaired by Mr. Eli Radomsky, with a mandate to develop a constitution to govern the operations of Little League Baseball in Canada, and take the necessary steps to apply for a Letters Patent for Federal Incorporation as national Sports organization.

In April, 1973 Little League Baseball Canada incorporated under the Canada Corporations Act, with affiliation to Little League Baseball, Incorporated.

At the Canadian Little League Championships at Victoria, B.C. in August, 1973, the Canadian operation was placed in the hands of the Board of Directors of Little League Baseball Canada.

Mission Statement

Little League Pledge

I Trust In God
I Love My Country
And Will Respect Its Laws
I Will Play Fair
And Strive To Win
But Win Or Lose
I Will Always
Do My Best

Have Fun, Play Ball!

Today, local Little League programs often choose to recite the Little League Pledge at the start of the season, and some recite it before every game. Some local leagues also choose to play or sing the National Anthem of the country in which the game is played.

Whether to recite the Little League Pledge (either partially or in its entirety), play/sing a National Anthem, or say a prayer, is entirely up to the local league’s Board of Directors. While many local leagues and districts include a recitation of the Little League Pledge in ceremonies, it is not, and has never been, required to be recited by any person involved with Little League Baseball or Softball.

Contact

Little League Baseball Canada

#500 - 2210 Prince of Wales Drive 
Ottawa Canada K2E 6Z9   

Phone: 613-731-3301
Email: [email protected]

Copyright © 2024 Little League Canada  |  Privacy Statement |  Terms Of Use |  License Agreement |  Children's Privacy Policy  Log In