After over two decades, the City of Greater Sudbury is phasing out its backing for local neighborhood associations known as Community Action Networks (CANs). Established in 2002 following the city’s amalgamation, the CAN program aimed to foster community groups that could seek funding to kickstart initiatives like community gardens, recreational facilities, or events. Presently, there are 20 CANs spread throughout Greater Sudbury, each representing specific areas such as the Flour Mill, South End, and Coniston. These CANs receive an annual operational budget of $2,500.
A report presented to Sudbury city council in November 2025 by Stuckless Consulting advised the city to suspend the CAN program due to various reasons. The report highlighted concerns about the CAN groups’ redundancy with other community organizations, outdated structures, and complex governance lacking proper leadership elections, which could lead to undue influence from vested interests. Consequently, the council decided to halt the CAN program and formulate a new scheme enabling community groups to apply for micro-grants.
The incoming Sudbury city council will vote on a proposed multi-tier community grant initiative in the new year to fill the void left by the dissolution of CANs. This program would also incorporate the $450,000 from the city’s Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) Fund. With a total budget of $1.1 million, the proposed program would encompass the current $50,000 allocated for CAN operational budgets, an annual grant fund of $458,000, and an additional $208,000 for community activities and projects. Under this revised setup, community groups could seek grants ranging from $500 to $50,000, aiming for easier access through reduced administrative requirements for micro-grants.
After the current program’s conclusion, CANs like the Valley East group plan to continue their efforts under new identities. Similarly, other CANs, such as the South End group, express their commitment to maintaining involvement in local initiatives like a traffic committee and supporting a new community garden.