Community Action Networks
What are Community Action Networks?
Community Action Networks are City of Greater Sudbury supported citizen volunteer groups who want to make a difference in their community.
They bring people together to build a Healthy Community. Healthy Communities are strong and vibrant. They emerge from the collaborative efforts of citizens who care about where they live and want to make their neighbourhoods the best they can possibly be. Community Action Networks provide resources to make this happen.
How do Community Action Networks operate?
Community Action Networks are not for profit community organizations and are not a registered non-profit or charity. We receive yearly funding from the City of the Greater Sudbury and operate under the Terms of Engagement and the Standard Operating Procedures.
General information follows, and more complete information can be found in the links above.
CANs receive $2,500 from the City of Greater Sudbury for general operating expenses. Approved projects, events, and activities are covered by City liability insurance and supported by the City. CANs must submit an annual report, which includes financial statements, to the City in order to receive yearly funding.
Anyone who lives or owns property or a business in Ward 8 can be a member of our CAN. We elect an Executive Committee to help direct our yearly activities at our Annual General Meeting, usually held in February of every year. The City also provides us with a Liaison who assists with helping CANs work and collaborate with the City. Our Liaison is Kelly Brooks. Our Ward Councillor, Al Sizer, also sits on our CAN.
We establish subcommittees in order to run projects or activities, which report to the Executive, and which may have non-CAN volunteers or resources. These activities are usually funded through donations or fundraising. Because we are not registered, we do not qualify for many of the grants that are available, and usually work through a partner to apply for these types of grants.
We hold meetings or community engagement opportunities at least 4 times a year, and all meetings are open to CAN members and the general public.
The City of Greater Sudbury recognizes the following benefits in establishing and supporting Community Action Networks:
- CANs enhance the overall quality of life in Greater Sudbury in social, environmental, and economic sectors.
- CANs enable citizens to participate, appreciate, and fully understand the services offered by community organizations and groups.
- CANs help to identify community needs and establish co-operative working relationships.
- CANs promote democracy and inclusiveness by giving participants (community members, City Council, and City staff) a unique vehicle to work in harmony toward common goals.
- CANs provide a mechanism for planning at the community level by identifying the different projects with which individual Community Action Networks will be involved.
Community Action Networks objectives
- To actively respond to the community’s needs and priorities by facilitating and promoting activities that empower residents to participate in community, economic and social development projects in their area.
- To operate in partnership with other community agencies and identify existing community resources to ensure their effectiveness in responding to community needs.
- To undertake and promote new initiatives in response to community priorities, and where possible, to consider the alignment between the initiatives and goals/objectives of the CAN, and the strategic priorities of the City of Greater Sudbury.
- To work in cooperation with other community groups in nurturing civic pride and engagement within each community.
Reference and more information about each CAN: City of Greater Sudbury Web Site – about CANs