The CCAA is the sole coordinating body for college sport in Canada, providing leadership, programs and services that foster student-athlete development through intercollegiate sport. Interprovincial competition was initiated in 1971 when colleges in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba formed the 4-West Championships for competition in seven sports. In 1972, Quebec and Ontario initiated similar interprovincial competitions. In 1974, the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association was founded and in 1979, the CCAA established a national office.

The CCAA caters to 9000 intercollegiate athletes over 700 coaches and more than 150 sport administrators. The CCAA is the largest intercollegiate sport organization in Canada with 108 member institutions representing 5 regional athletic conferences:

• The Atlantic Colleges Athletic Association (ACAA) representing colleges and universities in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island
• The Quebec Student Sports Federation (QSSF) representing colleges, universities and high schools in Quebec
• The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) comprised of colleges in Ontario
• The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) comprised of colleges in Alberta and Saskatchewan
• The British Columbia Colleges Athletic Association (BCCAA) representing colleges in British Columbia

Membership is held through the Athletic Departments of the colleges and the delivery of programs and services is coordinated through the Athletic Director. The CCAA's membership consists of a wide variety of post-secondary institutions, including Community Colleges, Universities, University-Colleges, CEGEPs and Technical Institutes.

The primary objectives of the CCAA are:

1. To provide a framework through which interprovincial, national and international college athletic competitions may be conducted, developed and promoted.
2. To seek full and effective representation on committees, boards, study groups and other like bodies, which make decisions concerning the development of college athletics in Canada.
3. To provide for the recognition and achievement of intercollegiate athletic excellence on a national level.

Today College student athletes compete for the Canadian title in nine annual National Championships held throughout Canada. The 9 National Championships are:

• Men's Soccer
• Women's Soccer
• Men's Volleyball
• Women's Volleyball
• Men's Basketball
• Women's Basketball
• Badminton
• Golf
• Cross Country Running