History
ICAN has come a long way over the past thirty years. From its beginnings, in 1977, as the dream of a two person committee of the local parent Association for Cerebral Palsy & Other Physical Handicaps, it evolved to a non-profit voluntary corporation with a Board of Directors and committees representing persons with disabilities, parents of disabled persons, and interested community people. The aim was to develop alternatives to institutionalization for adults with physical disabilities. Incorporated on May 23, 1979 as Participation House – Sudbury & District, the name was later changed to Participation Projects – Sudbury & District in order to move away from the connotation of “shelter or protection”. In the beginning stages, support, encouragement, and critical financial assistance were provided by the Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy. In 2003, the name and corporate identity was changed to ‘ICAN – Independence Centre and Network’ to reflect up-to-date values, services, and programs.
July 1, 1979 – Registered Charity status obtained.
March 1982 – Funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services for Sudbury’s first supportive housing project. This consisted of six wheelchair accessible apartments within a regular apartment building plus on-site support staff to provide services to 12 tenants.
December 1983 – Capital and operational budgets approved for resource centre and second supportive housing site. Funding was negotiated with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Canada Employment & Immigration, Ontario Ministry of Housing, Ontario Ministry of Community & Social Services.
January 1984 – St. Cecilia school property, 765 Brennan Road, Sudbury Ontario, purchased with monies raised through participation in OFCP provincial telethons in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.Byng Street playground property also purchased.
October 1, 1984 – Construction of new apartment building underway. Four hundred thousand dollars raised for equipment and furnishings in the community and with assistance from Pot of Gold Lottery and the Trillium Foundation.
November 1984 – Day centre (renovated school) opened to provide assessment and independence training. Classroom, staffed by Cambrian College was added in the second year of operation, a forerunner to Cambrian’s Special Needs Centre.
July 1985 – Apartment building completed for second supportive housing site at 582 Haig Street, Sudbury, for 20 tenants. Included was a temporary accommodation (respite) unit with a capacity for four. Participation in Sudbury Advisory Committee for Transportation for Disabled in development of Handi-Transit service.
1987 – Funded to provide attendant outreach services in the City of Sudbury.
1989 – Full-time employees unionized with Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU).
1990 – Funded to expand outreach services throughout the Region of Sudbury.
April 1994 – Provincial government funding transferred from Ministry of Community & Social Services to Ministry of Health.
1996 – Funded to provide 20 hours of Outreach services per week to students of Cambrian College Special Needs Centre.
1997 – Personal support worker certificate program established at Cambrian College with considerable input from PPS&D. Current employees registered part-time with recurring one-time funding to 2000.
September 1999 – Two year Trillium grant for computer lifeskills program.
2001 - Administrative and management structure reorganized to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
2002 – After school and holidays program for youth with disabilities was developed and funded by Ontario Trillium Foundation.
2002 – Partnership developed with Heart & Stroke Foundation to offer ‘Living with Stroke’ support groups to individuals who have had strokes and their caregivers.
2003 – Name and corporate identity changed to ICAN – Independence Centre and Network.
2004 – Partnership developed with Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario to offer peer support for individuals with disabilities. Funding from HRSD (Human Resources and Skills Development) to hire an individual with a disability to coordinate program.
2005 – One year FedNor Grant for a Marketing Coordinator approved.
2005 – Partnership developed with Sudbury Regional Hospital, Community Care Access Centre in an innovative stroke research project.
2005 – New funding received from Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to expand Attendant Outreach Services to Sudbury West.
2006 – United Way funding received for After School Campus and Peer Support.
Written by Mary Donato, founding chair of ICAN Board of Directors, 1979.