Our Story
It Started With A Wall.
In 2008, we turned a schoolyard wall into a place to play. That was just the beginning.
St. Brendan Catholic School · 2008
How It Started
It all started with a game of street hockey.
Growing up in Markham, our founder and his friends loved playing hockey. But when they were told to stop playing on the streets, they needed somewhere else to go.
Carrying hockey nets back and forth to school wasn't exactly easy. So they came up with a simpler idea: why not chalk a goal right onto the schoolyard wall?
No nets to carry. No setup. Just grab a ball and play.
That simple idea eventually became the Sportswall. In 2008, the first painted Sportswall went up at St. Brendan Catholic School. White court lines painted onto the existing wall and pavement gave students more ways to play in a space they already had. Later designs added colour to make the courts look more like the real thing.
Today, there are 17 Sportswalls at schools across Ontario, and we're working to bring them to even more communities.
In 2013, Get Active 'N Play became an Ontario non-profit. The idea kept growing. Free Saturday games in Parkdale evolved into GANP Games, while Moving + Learning brought movement into everyday lessons.
Three programs. One simple goal: make it easier for everyone to play.
Meet The Founder
Mark Ucieklak is the founder of Get Active 'N Play, driven by a simple belief: everyone deserves a chance to play.
From turning schoolyard walls into sport courts to starting community games in neighbourhood parks, Mark has always looked for practical ways to make play more accessible.
Today, he leads GANP's work across Sportswalls, Moving + Learning and GANP Games, helping schools and communities create more opportunities to get active.
His goal? Make Ontario the most active province in Canada, one schoolyard, classroom and community at a time.
GANP THROUGH THE YEARS
From our first painted court to free games in the park, we've kept finding new ways to bring people together through play.
2025 Impact Report
LOOK WHAT PLAY CAN DO.
From Sportswalls in schoolyards to free Saturday games, take a closer look at what we've been doing, who's getting involved and how we're tracking our progress.
SUPPORT THE NEXT CHAPTER
More Sportswalls in schoolyards. More movement in classrooms. More games in neighbourhood parks. There are more people who need opportunities to get active, and you can help us get there.
Who we've Worked with
GOOD THINGS HAPPEN WHEN WE PLAY TOGETHER.
From schools to community organizations, we've worked with people who share our belief that everyone deserves more opportunities to play.
