A program dedicated to expanding lacrosse in northern regions faces an uncertain future due to a lack of funding. The N60 initiative by the Canadian Lacrosse Foundation, which began in 2022, aimed to introduce the official summer sport of Canada to more remote communities such as Baker Lake, Nunavut, Norman Wells, N.W.T., and Yellowknife. Inspired by a successful lacrosse program in Kugluktuk, Nunavut, the N60 project sought to promote lacrosse north of the 60th parallel.
Under the N60 program, equipment like helmets, gloves, sticks, and t-shirts were provided to communities, along with coaching sessions to teach the game’s fundamentals and history. The goal was to generate local interest in lacrosse to sustain the sport after the initial coaching sessions. Lacrosse was viewed as a valuable off-season activity, particularly for hockey players, by Kyle Kugler, the executive director of Hockey North in the N.W.T.
Despite its successes, the N60 program encountered obstacles, including disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Travel restrictions and the high costs of transportation and equipment posed challenges. Additionally, finding dedicated individuals in communities to maintain interest in lacrosse proved difficult.
With the future of the N60 program uncertain, plans for 2026 are currently on hold. Kugler emphasized the need to reassess the next steps independently in light of the program’s funding challenges.