The Canadian Masters Athletic Association (CMAA) pioneered active athletics for the young at heart, before the "fitness" boom began and before mass participation grew. Our members continue to demonstrate what "fitness" is all about.

The CMAA encourages everyone to take part, at all levels of ability, and is recognized by World Masters Athletics (WMA), partnered with the IAAF, as Canada's only national body responsible for Masters Athletic affairs. The CMAA promotes and coordinates events in Track & Field, Cross Country, Road Racing and Race Walking, at all levels, from local to international, for Canadian masters age participants.

Membership in the CMAA is open to anyone who is interested in masters and sub-masters fitness. By agreement with the WMA and the IAAF, "Masters" are defined as women and men 35 and over. Therefore, Masters championship competition is limited to those ages, in 5-year age groups, up to the age of the oldest competitor. Competition is also often provided for "sub-masters" of both sexes, who are younger than the official Masters ages, but are at least 30 years old; i. e., men and women aged 30 to 34. In Ontario, the provincial masters group, Ontario Masters Track & Field Association("OMTFA") collects membership fees on behalf of the CMAA, and its members therefore automatically become members in the CMAA.

Membership in the CMAA provides to the mature competitor:

• News, results and advance information on events for Masters, through our periodic newsletter "The MASTERpiece"
• Sponsorship of Canadian Championships, and other events, in Track & Field, Cross Country, Road Racing and Race Walking, and the awarding of gold, silver and bronze medals in all five year age groups for men and women at all CMAA championships
• Lower entry fees for most CMAA-sponsored events, and some events sponsored by other groups
• Membership registration number which is recognized by WMA and the IAAF for international events
• Participation in the biannual WMA Outdoor Track & Field (Stadia) Championships (in odd-numbered years) and WMA Indoor Stadia Championships (in even-numbered years), and the organization of Canadian teams for certain of these events
• Participation in Regional Stadia Championships, held in even-numbered years
• The sale of official CMAA clothing, and information on trips to these international events
• The approval and recognition of records, and the provision of performance standards, for all of the five year age groups, for men and women.

History of the CMAA

The beginning of the CMAA dates from 1972, when a group of enthusiastic "over 40" Canadian runners went to Europe to find fun and competition. Some, including Don Farquharson (1925-2000), one of the group's leaders, were experienced athletes, while others were just discovering the sport.

That group, then known as the "Canadian International Track Team", became the nucleus of a national organization and, most importantly, inspired many local running groups. By 1974, there was sufficient interest across the country to justify a National Masters Track & Field Championship, held in Richmond, British Columbia.

In 1975, Canada hosted the first ever World Track & Field (Stadia) Championship for over 40s, in Toronto. Marathon and Cross Country were also on the menu, as they continue to be for the WMA Championships. All those who attended that first meet shared an enthusiasm and sense of discovery, which led to the formation of the World Association of Veteran Athletes (WAVA), which was chaired by Don Farquharson for twelve years, until 1987. Since then, we have met every two years, in various locations around the world. In 2007 we met in Riccione, Italy and in 2009, we will meet in Lahti, Finland. The world joins us, in increasing numbers at every meet, and novices experience just as much fun, excitement and satisfaction as the internationally-known stars. The name of WAVA was changed to WMA in 2001.

WMA also added a Road Racing/ Race Walking (Non-Stadia) Championship, which had been held in the years when the Stadia Championships aren't held. In 1994, these Road Races were held in Scarborough, Ontario, while the 2004 events, the last held, were in Auckland, New Zealand. Also in even numbered years, Regional WMA Track & Field Championships are held around the world. The next such event for our region (North & Central America & the Caribbean) will be held in August, 2008 in Florida. In March, 2004, for the first time, a WMA Indoor Track & Field Championship was held, and the latest Indoor Championship was held in March, 2008, in Clermont-Ferrand, France. The next such Indoor Championship will be hled in March, 2010, in Kamloops, British Columbia.

But the international scene is just the tip of the iceberg. The biggest developments have been at home. Since those early days, we have seen public acceptance of the idea of being fit at all ages, and our members continue to inspire. We are pleased to see so many race and meet organizers now routinely include "masters" categories, although not always in the same five-year age groups which we have found appropriate. The CMAA, through "Provincial Directors", maintains links with the provinces, and Provincial Championships are held in many provinces each year.

Our purpose is still, as it was in the beginning, to encourage mature Canadians to enjoy a physically active lifestyle. Our events, even if they happen to be described in some instances as "championships", are open to everyone at all levels. Everyone wins! Our membership includes enthusiastic beginners as well as outstanding record-setters - each cheering the other on.

| top of page |