(ParticipACTION report cover)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

creating habits!

Daily physical activity among Canadian adults gets low grades, per latest ParticipACTION report

Nov 19, 2025 | 3:51 PM

ParticipACTION has released its 2025 Adult Report Card entitled ‘Moving Beyond Stagnation: Elevating Physical Activity in Canada.’

In the report’s words, stagnation refers to a persistent lack of progress in modern lifestyles, driven by technological conveniences and shaped by systemic design.

These factors have socially engineered our daily routines, it notes.

According to the report, which doesn’t dive into breakdowns by province, Canadian adults get a C- on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity — in other words, just 46 per cent of adults met the recommended amount of 2.5 hours per day.

Meantime, just 32 per cent of adults who responded said they took the recommended 7,500 steps per day, yielding a grade of D.

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ParticipACTION’s report gave a D+ for muscle-strengthening activities, a D for balance activities, a C- for active transportation, a D for sport participation, and a C- for stationary time.

Bright spots in the daily behaviours category included a B for sleep; this meant 70 per cent of adults reported meeting the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep.

A C+ is given for recreational screen time, meaning 57 per cent reported they stuck to three hours or less of screen time each day.

But there are other positives, with an A- given under the category of individual characteristics for capability. This means three-quarters of people agreed they have the physical capability, and 85 per cent said they have the psychological capability, to be physically active.

A B+ is given for facilities and infrastructure.

The full report, which was compiled in large part by the Sedentary Living Lab at the University of Calgary, can be read here. It was also done in partnership with the Canadian Fitness Lifestyle Research Institute.

ParticipACTION is also behind the annual Community Challenge, which has run for six years, and sees Canadian communities vie for the title of ‘Most Active’ in their province and in the country.

Red Deer was Alberta’s most active city in 2025, its fourth straight time winning.

Red Deer was also the nation’s most active in 2022.