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Project Impact about 'making good things happen at the micro level'

Coalition for a Liveable Sudbury hands out micro grants to 13 local projects

Thirteen local community projects have been given small grants of up to $500 as part of the third year of Project Impact, an initiative run by the Coalition for a Liveable Sudbury.

Some of the recipients were on hand at the Main Public Library April 3 to pick up their cheques.

Coalition for a Liveable Sudbury was able to fund Project Impact this year thanks to $6,000 in donations from the community. 

The general public voted for their favourite projects, determining which ones received funding. Twenty-two projects were submitted for funding, although several withdrew their applications.

“Basically it's about making good things happen at the micro level,” said Lily Noble, co-chair for Coalition for a Liveable Sudbury, adding that it's also something that builds community.

An example is the Seniors Helping Seniors project, which received a $500 Project Impact grant.

A seniors group with the Coniston Community Garden — a past Project Impact grant recipient — are looking to help other seniors by providing them with fresh, healthy foods, something they can't always afford.

Once a week, they'll bring boxes of produce from the community garden and from Coniston's Valu Mart grocery store (which has also made a generous donation) to the three seniors' buildings in the community.

“What we are doing is we're putting a notice under everyone's door so they are at least aware of this opportunity to come down and pick fresh fruits and vegetables, and they just take whatever they need,” said volunteer Gail Firby.

On the other end of the age spectrum is the group of homeschoolers who received a $335 grant to paint 10 rain barrels for community gardens, parks or public places this June.

The brightly-coloured rain barrels will not only make these spaces more colourful, but hopefully attract birds and butterflies, said Kalem Mahaffy, one of the students taking part in the project.

Here's a full list of the recipients:

  • Bee Wary Bee Wise ($500) – Bee houses will be installed throughout Capreol's downtown core by Northern Ontario Railroad Museum and Capreol Communities in Bloom Committee to provide safe habitats for these important but endangered pollinators, benefitting local gardens. 
  • Wild at Heart Day Camps ($500) – Free day camps Aug. 14-15 for students aged six to 12 focusing on environmental issues such as wildlife-human conflict, water pollution, pollinators and wild plants.
  • Seniors Helping Seniors ($500) – Coniston Community Garden's Seniors will grow food in the community garden and greenhouse and provide a selection of fresh vegetables to those seniors who are not able to garden, or those who have limited ability, either physical or financially, to shop for fresh vegetables.  
  • Food Bank Service 2.0 ($500) – Establishing a non-profit grocery store as an alternative for people struggling financially.
  • Ryan Heights Bee Hotel and Composter ($500) – Build two bee hotels to help with healthy cross-pollination at the community garden and Flour Mill Urban Farm.
  • Sign in Bell Park explaining First Nations history and original name of Ramsey Lake ($500) – Ramsey Lake Stewardship Committee and Atikmeksheng Anishnawbek First Nation will erect a permanent sign in English, Anishinaabe and French with the original name of Ramsey Lake, “Bimitimagamising,” and a description of the historic passage of First Nations people between Ramsey Lake and Atikameksheng Anishnawbek.
  • Biking for Transportation and Wellness ($490) – Canadian Mental Health Association Victoria Street Place would like to install a bike rack and fix up gently used bikes for residents at Victoria Street Place.
  • Place Hurtubise and Kewadin Community Gardens ($500) – Starting a community garden with raised garden beds in two low-income housing complexes in New Sudbury.
  • Girls are Strong Club ($400) – Chelmsford Valley District Composite School students starting a club about how girls can raise their self-esteem, realize their potential, learn about body image and challenge the appearance ideal.
  • Community Painted Rain Barrels ($335) – Art Creative Homeschoolers plan to artistically paint rain barrels in community gardens, parks or public places and turn them into positive and nature-based pieces of art.
  • Citizen Scientists of Junction Creek ($500) – Junction Creek Stewardship Committee plans to hold a series of monthly environmental outreach events open to the public that will feature guided walks to survey for plants and wildlife in the Junction Creek watershed. 
  • Garson Rink Lights ($500) – Penman Park Association plans to add outdoor lights to its outdoor rink to extend skating time into the evening.
  • Southgate Park Cleanup ($350) – Group of neighbours from the Nepahwin Avenue/Walford Road/Southgate Crescent area plans to hold a cleanup to make the parkland between the three streets a usable natural space. 


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Heidi Ulrichsen

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