After over two decades, the City of Greater Sudbury is phasing out its backing for neighborhood groups known as Community Action Networks (CANs).
The CAN program was established by the city in 2002, following its amalgamation the previous year. Its aim was to establish community groups that could seek funding for local initiatives like community gardens, recreational facilities, and events.
Currently, there are 20 CANs serving various areas such as the Flour Mill, South End, and Coniston, each receiving an annual operational budget of $2,500.
In a report presented to the Sudbury city council in November 2025, Stuckless Consulting suggested that the city suspend the CAN program due to several reasons. The report highlighted concerns about the groups having significant overlap with other community organizations, outdated structures, and complex governance lacking proper leadership role elections, which could lead to influence from special interests.
As a result, the council decided to halt the CAN program and create a new system for community groups to apply for micro-grants instead.
“In terms of micro-grants, I would hope that it would be very simplified,” stated Chantelle Gorham, chair of the Levack CAN. “Oftentimes you ask for a grant and then they ask for another report back saying, like, how successful was the event. It’s time-consuming for volunteers.”
The incoming city council in Sudbury will soon vote on a proposed multi-tier community grant program to replace the disbanded CANs, incorporating the $450,000 currently allocated to the city’s Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) Fund.
The proposed program would have a total budget of $1.1 million, encompassing the $50,000 designated for the CAN operating budgets, $458,000 in annual grant funding, and an additional $208,000 for community activities and initiatives.
Under this new scheme, community groups could apply for grants ranging from $500 to $50,000, with lower barriers to entry, such as simplified financial reporting, making the grants more accessible.
“Some grants will be easier to get than it was before,” explained Suzanne Leblanc, chair of the Valley East CAN. “Sometimes it could take three months and now there will be some that will be a little shorter. One month or three weeks depending if it’s just a small grant.”
Even after the current program ends, Leblanc mentioned that the Valley East CAN plans to continue its efforts under a different name. Similarly, other CANs have expressed their commitment to carrying on their work under new identities. Brenda Koziol, chair of the South End CAN, noted that volunteers within their group aim to stay engaged in a neighborhood traffic committee and continue supporting a new community garden established in the area during the summer.
