Lacrosse in Canada Lacrosse in Canada Modern lacrosse in Canada has been a popular sport since the mid 1800s. Only field lacrosse was played until the 1930s, when box lacrosse was invented. In 1994 Parliament passed the "National Sports of Canada Act" which declared lacrosse to be "Canada's National Summer Sport", with ice hockey as the National Winter Sport. Lacrosse was played by First Nations peoples before the arrival of European colonists. The first documented description of the game was in 1637. The game was called "baggataway" and "tewaarathon", which was played by two teams with 100 to 1,000 men each on a
Sport Canada within Canada. Sport Canada funds various governing bodies for sports in Canada including: Sport Canada Sport Canada is a branch of the Department of Canadian Heritage. Its mission is "to enhance opportunities for all Canadians to participate and excel in sport." Sport Canada develops federal sport policy in Canada, provides funding programs in support of sport, and administers special projects related to sport. Funding from Sport Canada is provided through the Athlete Assistance Program, which gives direct financial support to selected national team athletes; the Sport Support Program, which funds national sports organizations; and the Hosting Program, which helps sport