Sports Work Canada

If you’ve ever opened a Canadian sport job listing and felt like you were reading a secret code – NSO, PSO, MSO, COC, MLSE – you’re not alone. Welcome to the great alphabet soup of Canadian sport organizations! Don’t worry – today we’re here to be your translator.

So… What Is an NSO?

NSO = National Sport Organization

These are the big dogs when it comes to managing a sport across the entire country. Each recognized sport in Canada has an NSO, and they’re responsible for:

• Overseeing national teams

• Developing high performance pathways

• Setting national standards for coaching, officiating, and athlete development

• Working with Sport Canada to receive funding (aka, the $$$)

Examples:

• Volleyball Canada

• Rugby Canada

• Athletics Canada

If the sport sends athletes to the Olympics, the NSO is likely the one coordinating with the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC – another acronym), managing carded athletes, and stressing over how many tracksuits to bring to Brisbane in 2028.

Then What is a PSO?

PSO = Provincial Sport Organization

PSOs do at the provincial level what NSOs do nationally. They deliver programming and competitions within their province and work to implement national strategies locally. They source funding from their respective NSOs, as well as Provincial MSOs (more on those below), plus things like partnerships, programs, and donations.

PSOs are where a lot of Canadian sports jobs live. They run everything from grassroots to provincial teams, and usually have roles in:

• Events and competition delivery

• Membership and club support

• Coach and official training

• Provincial high performance programs

Examples:

• Ontario Soccer

• Tennis BC

• Swimming Alberta

So if you’re applying for a job with a PSO, you might be dealing with clubs, regional partners, and lots of volunteers (bring your people skills).

So What the Heck are MSOs?

MSO = Multisport Organization

These orgs aren’t tied to just one sport. Instead, they work across sports on things like coaching certification, athlete development, funding, equity, and more. Some have national scope, others are provincial.

Common MSOs:

• Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) – Think NCCP, coach education, etc.

• Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) – Anti-doping + True Sport movement

• Aboriginal Sport Circle – Supporting Indigenous participation and leadership in sport

• Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) – Overseeing para-sport nationally

You might also see P/T-MSOs (Provincial/Territorial Multisport Orgs), like:

• Sport Manitoba

• viaSport BC

• I Love Sport So Much I Started a Provincial Agency Dot CA (okay, maybe not that last one)

Professional Sport Organizations & Ownership Groups in Canada: Yep, More Acronyms

If you’re more interested in the Leafs than long-term athlete development, don’t worry – there’s an acronym soup for you too.

Canada’s professional teams are often owned or managed by large sport & entertainment groups, which handle everything from team ops and ticketing to marketing, events, and facility management. These orgs post a LOT of jobs – and yes, their acronyms are part of the game.

A few of the big names:

• MLSE – Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
  Home to the Leafs, Raptors, Argos, TFC, and Scotiabank Arena. You’ll find roles in literally everything, including digital, partnerships, operations, and guest experience.

• CSE – Canucks Sports & Entertainment
  Based in Vancouver. Manages the Canucks, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL), and events at Rogers Arena.

• TNSE – True North Sports + Entertainment
  Winnipeg’s major player—responsible for the Jets, Moose (AHL), Canada Life Centre, and community programming.

• OEG – Oilers Entertainment Group
  Edmonton’s hockey and entertainment powerhouse. Think Oilers, Oil Kings, and Rogers Place.

• CSG – Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation
  Oversees the Flames, Stampeders, Hitmen, and more. Event staff to executive ops – they’ve got it all.

These groups run like corporate machines – with entry points in sales, customer experience, marketing, business analytics, and events. They’re also incredibly competitive, so having a polished application (and understanding the org structure) helps you stand out.

Okay… So Who’s the Boss?

This isn’t a strict hierarchy – it’s more like a sprawling ecosystem.

Here’s how it sort of fits together:

• Sport Canada (government) funds recognized NSOs and MSOs

• NSOs guide national sport development

• PSOs implement things locally and run the province-level show

• MSOs support the system across multiple sports (training, funding, policy)

• Pro Sport Orgs exist on a parallel track – corporate, commercial, and community-focused

And everyone meets twice a year, stares at each other’s acronyms, and agrees to write another strategic plan.

TL;DR: Here’s What You Actually Need to Know for Job Hunting

• If you want to work close to athletes and clubs, look at PSOs.

• If you’re into national teams, policy, or big-picture planning, NSOs or MSOs are your jam.

• If you love coach development, DEI, or sport system work, MSOs and P/T-MSOs have meaningful roles, but PSOs & NSOs do this too.

• If you want to work in pro sport, learn the big acronyms and keep an eye on their careers pages.

• You don’t have to pick one forever – many professionals move between them.

Still Confused? We Got You.

Every org has its quirks, but understanding the landscape helps you apply smarter – and ask better questions in interviews. Interested in tailoring your resume for one of these sports industry sub-sectors? Or running through a mock interview? Check out our Services Page for information on our resume review and career coaching.

Career Resources, Sports Industry