Joint Media Release: Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, Wahnapitae First Nation and the City of Greater Sudbury commit to CEDI Participation Strenghtening Economic Collaboration

Formalized by resolutions passed by their respective councils, Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, Wahnapitae First Nation and the City of Greater Sudbury have committed to participating in the Community Economic Development Initiative (CEDI), a national program delivered jointly by Cando (the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers) and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).

Following their joint application process, the communities were selected as one of only six partnerships across the county to participate in the 18-month Accelerated Phase IV Cohort to of the First Nation-municipal CEDI program. The cohort officially began in late 2025 and is scheduled to conclude in March of 2027.

CEDI supports First Nation communities and neighbouring municipalities in building respectful, equitable partnerships, and strengthening long-term planning for collaborative community economic development and land use.

“This is an exciting step in building economic capacity for our community,” said Craig Nootchtai, Gimaa of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek. “We’ve been actively seeking opportunities to strengthen local capacity and expand financial sustainability, and we believe this partnership will provide additional avenues to do so.”

“We’ve made progress over the years working alongside the City of Greater Sudbury and exploring opportunities to strengthen our relationship so that we can thrive collectively,” said Larry Roque, Chief of Wahnapitae First Nation. “We recognize that working together plays an important role in addressing shared economic challenges, positively impacting our regional economy and moving our communities forward.”

Mayor Paul Lefebvre of the City of Greater Sudbury emphasized the value of collaboration.

“I’m honoured to be participating in this initiative alongside both First Nations, and I am confident it will establish a strong framework for us to continue to expand our collaboration,” said Mayor Lefebvre. “We share many aspirations for our communities, and working together will benefit residents across the region.”

Both staff and elected officials from each participating community will play a vital role in the program’s success.  Representatives from all three will take part in monthly working group meetings and biannual workshops throughout the 18-month cohort.

With support from the CEDI team, the participating communities will build capacity for joint economic development planning, strengthen government-to-government relationships and inter-community collaboration, and advance initiatives that improve quality of life across the region. By working together, CEDI partnerships are better positioned to address local challenges with locally driven solutions.