Follow CFL

© 2025 CFL. All rights reserved.

Applications for the 2025 Women in Football Program presented by KPMG are now open! Watch 2024’s recap to learn more.

The Canadian Football League is committed to creating a workplace culture that promotes inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility. The CFL recognizes and respects the values and perspectives of all employees in hopes of fostering positive learning and working environments. It encourages collaboration, and an interconnected and supportive team culture, where everyone is heard, diversity of thought and experience is valued, and every idea is considered based on merit and potential.

The league practices involvement and acceptance to develop a strong and empowering environment that furthers the league’s objectives on the field, across its business, and in its standing as a contributing member of Canadian society.

Women In Football Program presented by KPMG

Women are among those who have traditionally been underrepresented at the CFL. The Women in Football Program presented by KPMG has been created to open a pathway for talented women to contribute to the growth of Canadian football.

This program will make use of CFL teams’ training camps to provide a meaningful opportunity for successful candidates to experience coaching, or the football operations sides of the league.

The program’s guiding principles are centered upon:

  • Learning: Participants will be able to observe, listen and take in the knowledge necessary to excel at the role.
  • Action: Participants will be able to put their learnings into practice to contribute towards fulfilling the objectives of the role.
  • Development: Participants will receive constructive feedback on performance to further skill development and improvement within the field.
  • Preparation: Participants will gain the knowledge, skills and networking opportunities to help prepare them for future opportunities and the possibility of career-advancement in a similar role.

In addition to the program’s football-centric elements, KPMG will offer participants on-going support and mentorship focused on skill-development in business-focused settings. Our aim is to encourage:

  • Sharing knowledge and experience
  • Providing an opportunity to learn from different perspectives
  • Empower women in the sport and/or in business

Applications for the Women in Football Program presented by KPMG are now open! Click here to apply.

Mentorship Program Structure

The mentorship program will include group virtual meetings and 1:1 mentorship. It is our hope that through traditional mentorship pairings, participants will have the opportunity to engage in deeper conversations and build lasting connections.

  • Mentors and participants will be encouraged to meet 1:1 a minimum of three times this year
  • Flexible virtual meetings or in-person where the individuals are in the same city
  • Program to provide some guiding principles and suggested conversation topics

Group virtual meetings will be a forum where you can share your experiences, and we will bring in guest speakers from business and sports organizations.

Meaningful mentorship can be very powerful, positively impacting both mentees and mentors in many ways including gaining new perspectives, building new relationship, seeking constructive feedback and much more!

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for the program, candidates:

  • Must be a Canadian resident or currently hold a valid work permit in Canada.
  • Must NOT be former participants in the Women in Football Program.
  • Must meet at least one of the below requirements:
    • Current or former flag-football, touch-football or tackle football player
    • Current or former flag-football, touch-football or tackle football coach Certified or in the process of being certified by the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association (CATA) or equivalent
    • Certified or in the process of being Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) designation from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
    • Sport management student/graduate or another related diploma.

Program Details 

The League Office does not mandate program elements, nor does it oversee each team’s hiring process.

The league recommends that program administrators at the member clubs:

  • Follow best practices in creating an immersive and educational experience for participants.
  • Hire participants for the four-week period during training camp and at least one regular season game.
  • Maintain a set meeting schedule to discuss areas of improvement and offer guidance.

Each Member Club will develop a program tailored to the needs of their organization.  Participants may enjoy a different experience as a result.

Next Steps 

Applicants must apply for the Women in Football Program presented by KPMG by February 9, 2025. Following the deadline, the League Office will share the submissions with all nine CFL member clubs. Each member club will then select candidates of interest and complete the interview and offer process.

We thank all applicants for their interest in this program and advise that only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Program specifics, including responsibilities and management will be decided at the team-level, and then communicated with successful candidates by March 16.
Any inquiries can be directed to dis@cfl.ca.