League1 Canada

League1 Canada (L1C; French: Ligue1 Canada) is the third tier of the Canadian soccer league system. It is overseen by Canada Soccer Business, in partnership with participating provincial member federations. It is below the Canadian Premier League.

League1 Canada
FoundedMarch 31, 2022 (2022-03-31)
First season2022
CountryCanada
ConfederationCONCACAF
Divisions4
Number of teams41 clubs (men)
39 clubs (women)
Level on pyramid3
Domestic cup(s)Canadian Championship
Interprovincial Championship
TV partnersOneSoccer (select matches)
Websiteleague1canada.ca
Current: 2023 League1 Canada season

Consisting of the highest level sanctioned provincial league in three of the provinces of Canada, League1 Canada is contested by clubs from three divisions; League1 Ontario, League1 British Columbia, and Ligue1 Québec for both the men's and women's divisions. Dino Rossi has served as league president since May 2022.[1]

History

In 2011, the Première ligue de soccer du Québec was established to begin play in 2012, marking the return of semi-professional soccer in the province of Quebec.[2] In 2013, League1 Ontario was founded as a semi-professional league by the Ontario Soccer Association to begin play in 2014 with a men's division,[3] followed by a women's division in 2015.[4] After multiple years of consideration, League1 British Columbia began play in 2022 in both the male and female divisions.[5]

On March 31, 2022, League1 Canada was announced as an alliance of the three existing Division III pro-am leagues, aligning the national soccer pathway.[6] L1O and L1BC adopted new logos that day, with the PLSQ transitioning to a common logo for 2023.[6]

From August 12 to 14, 2022, the inaugural Women's Interprovincial Championship was held in Laval, Quebec. The competition was a four-team knockout tournament featuring the champions of each of the three divisions, as well as an additional team from the PLSQ (allocated as host).[7][8] A.S. Blainville won the inaugural title.[9][10] The 2023 tournament is scheduled to be held in British Columbia.[11][12]

In March 2023, League1 Alberta was announced with a five-team exhibition series to be played that summer.[13] The league plans to officially launch for the 2024 season.

Provincial competitions

Leagues

The league champion for League1 Ontario and League1 British Columbia is determined through a playoffs tournament, while the league champion for Ligue1 Québec is determined through the season standings.

LeagueMen's divisionWomen's division
First seasonTeamsCurrent winnerFirst seasonTeamsCurrent winner
League1 Alberta2024520245
League1 British Columbia20228TSS FC Rovers (2022)20228Vancouver Whitecaps Girls Elite (2022)
League1 Ontario201421Vaughan Azzurri (2022)201519NDC Ontario (2022)
Ligue1 Québec201212FC Laval (2022)201812A.S. Blainville (2022)

League cups

Not to be confused with a league's playoff phase.

CupMen's divisionWomen's division
First seasonCurrent winnerFirst seasonCurrent winner
L1 Cup2014[lower-alpha 1]Vaughan Azzurri (2018)2015[lower-alpha 1]Woodbridge Strikers (2018)
Coupe PLSQ2013AS Blainville (2022)2021A.S. Blainville (2022)
  1. The L1 Cup is currently on hiatus and will return in the 2024 League1 Ontario season.

Interprovincial competitions
CompetitionMen's divisionWomen's division
First seasonCurrent winnerFirst seasonCurrent winner
Interprovincial Championship2014[lower-alpha 1] /2023[14]CS Mont-Royal Outremont (2016)2022Quebec A.S. Blainville (2022)
  1. From 2014 to 2016, the winners of League1 Ontario and the PLSQ participated in the Inter-Provincial Cup

See also

References
  1. Jacques, John (May 16, 2022). "Dino Rossi Named League1 Canada President". Northern Tribune. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  2. "Retour d'une ligue semi-pro" [Return of a semi-pro league]. Ici Radio-Canada Télé. August 30, 2011.
  3. "OSA to pilot semi-pro League1 Ontario in 2014–2015". Ontario Soccer Association. November 15, 2013. Archived from the original on July 6, 2014. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
  4. "League1 And OSA Announce 2015 Women's Division". League1 Ontario. January 28, 2015.
  5. "BC Soccer officially launches League1 British Columbia". BC Soccer. October 5, 2021.
  6. "League1 Canada officially launched today". Canadian Premier League. March 31, 2022.
  7. "PLSQ 2022 : Une Saison Chargée" [PLSQ 2022: A Busy Season]. Première ligue de soccer du Québec (in French). April 4, 2022.
  8. "BC Soccer announces League1 BC participation at the Women's Interprovincial Championship". bcsoccer.net. April 8, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  9. "L'AS Blainville couronnée championenne de la première édition du championnat interprovincial" [AS Blainville crowned champions of the first edition of the interprovincial championship]. Première ligue de soccer du Québec (in French). August 15, 2022.
  10. Jacques, John (August 15, 2022). "AS Blainville Named First-Ever League1 Canada Inter-Provincial Champions". Northern Tribune.
  11. "AS Blainville crowned winners of the inaugural Inter-Provincial Championship". League1 Canada. August 15, 2022.
  12. Dubois, Julien (August 15, 2022). "La Ligue 1 Canada, un pas vers le professionalisme au féminin" [League1 Canada, a step towards female professionalism]. Just eSoccer (in French).
  13. Parkes, David (March 10, 2023). "Official: League1 Alberta Exhibition Series Confirmed". Northern Tribune.
  14. "League1 Canada launches Women's Inter-Provincial Championship". League1 Ontario. July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
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