Our History
Late in 1999, the need to fill an important niche that was lacking in Central Alberta was beginning to be identified: elite sport development. Though many talented athletes have come out of Central Alberta, many of them were obliged to leave their hometowns due to the inadequacy of elite sport services offered in the area. Perhaps the most well-known example is that of Jeremy Wotherspoon, who moved to Calgary at a young age as his skill had outgrown the development services available to him in Red Deer.
Seeking to address this issue, several enthusiastic sport leaders in the community began discussions to improve the coordination of regional sport resources. They identified the lack of communication between sport service providers and athletes in Central Alberta and considered how best to coordinate the sport science area of training support/resources for emerging athletes.
In the year 2001, these community leaders ultimately formed the Central Alberta Sport Development Alliance. For years CASDA served a dual purpose; it provided quality sport development for Central Alberta athletes and was observed as a pilot project for a province wide system of sport development centres.
In 2007, the Central Alberta Sport Development Alliance changed their name to the Alberta Sport Development Centre – Central. Their vision of localized sport development was adopted province-wide and has since spread to Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Edmonton (Capital), Calgary, Medicine Hat and Lethbridge.
Seeking to address this issue, several enthusiastic sport leaders in the community began discussions to improve the coordination of regional sport resources. They identified the lack of communication between sport service providers and athletes in Central Alberta and considered how best to coordinate the sport science area of training support/resources for emerging athletes.
In the year 2001, these community leaders ultimately formed the Central Alberta Sport Development Alliance. For years CASDA served a dual purpose; it provided quality sport development for Central Alberta athletes and was observed as a pilot project for a province wide system of sport development centres.
In 2007, the Central Alberta Sport Development Alliance changed their name to the Alberta Sport Development Centre – Central. Their vision of localized sport development was adopted province-wide and has since spread to Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Edmonton (Capital), Calgary, Medicine Hat and Lethbridge.