Abstract

In a population of youth affiliated with a large Sport for Development facility in downtown Toronto, physical activity (PA) levels declined dramatically at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic and remained inadequate a year later. Daily PA increased significantly over time, H(10) = 35.506, p < .01, but remained well below the recommended benchmarks for the accrual of positive health and wellness-related outcomes. During the first six months of the pandemic, respondents participating in virtual sport and physical activity programs offered by the facility were significantly more physically active than respondents not participating, H(1) = 8.327, p < .01, with the greatest difference between the two groups seen in May 2020. A larger percentage of individuals maintained adequate levels of PA during the pandemic compared to Canada’s general population of children and youth. These findings are consistent with evidence indicating a strong influence of built environment and other socioeconomic factors on movement behavior among children and youth during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide a unique narrative reflecting the experience of urban youth facing barriers to positive development in Canada’s largest city.