Canadian Soccer Business (CSB) in partnership with BC Soccer, Quebec Soccer and Ontario Soccer announced today the formation of League1 Canada, an alliance of Canada’s existing provincial Division III Pro-Am men’s and women’s DIII soccer leagues: League1 BC, League1 Ontario and Première ligue de soccer du Québec (PLSQ).

The League1 Canada national alliance helps unify and elevate the sport of soccer at the Pro-Am level in Canada. Working together, the three partner leagues want alignment on the sporting pathway for Canadian men and women to develop and transition to the professional level. The benefits include sharing of best practices while respecting the unique realities that exist in each province. In the first instance, alignment in league logos demonstrates commitment for 2022, both League1 BC and League1 Ontario will have aligned logos with PLSQ transitioning in 2023. 

The alliance will also create a unique value proposition for potential national commercial partnerships through a series of national tournaments, competitions, and activations.

This initiative, which was the brainchild of former CPL Commissioner David Clanachan is designed to help forge deeper ties between the three provincial leagues, the provincial associations that sanction and support the operation of those leagues, the CPL and all their other stakeholders within the Canadian Soccer landscape. The move creates an organized association between the three provincial leagues and puts a focus on young soccer players in the largest provincial soccer associations in Canada. Bringing the three semi-professional leagues together will allow a collaboration that helps strengthen and develop match standards, growth development and opportunity for inter-competition down the road.

“League1 Ontario has enjoyed very positive relationships with our colleagues at PLSQ for many years and that spirit of cooperation has carried over to our new friends at League1 BC over the past several months, but the League1 Canada alliance takes those existing relationships to a completely different level,” said L1O Executive Chairman Dino Rossi. “I am confident that, by working together and establishing a close alignment of interests, we will grow the sport at the Division III Pro-Am level to all new heights."

“The collaboration between League1 BC, League1 Ontario and PLSQ via League1 Canada enhances our ability to create opportunities for Canadian players, coaches and officials and consolidates our competition structure. It demonstrates our commitment to sustain the momentum of the sport in Canada. We are entering a new era in our province and our country!” said Gabriel Assis, BC Soccer Director of Operations.

“Today's announcement solidifies our common desire to join forces and work more closely together to provide our teams and players with a more professional environment coupled with new sporting challenges," said President of Soccer Québec Pierre Marchand. "This alliance will be very profitable as the leagues will be able to benefit from more resources and expertise, which will allow them to grow further and take a more important place in the landscape of Canadian soccer, which is in full swing."