The SideWalk Centre at All Saints' Waterloo is one of the Huron ministries funded by AFC in 2025
By Michelle Hauser
The Diocese of Huron is home to six of the twelve ministries funded through the Anglican Foundation of Canada’s (AFC) 2025 Request for Proposals: Community Ministry Partnerships—more than any other diocese in the country.
With projects spanning youth leadership, seniors’ support, mental wellness, community arts, and multi-partner outreach hubs, Huron’s collaborative spirit made it a standout during this year’s national grant cycle.
“These proposals from Huron showed a deep attentiveness to the needs of their communities,” says Dr. Scott Brubacher, Executive Director of AFC.
“What set them apart was not just the number of applications, but the quality of the partnerships behind them—parishes working with musicians, frontline agencies, mental-health practitioners, youth networks, and local service groups. It is the kind of ministry that begins with listening, and that’s where the strongest community work always starts. I also want to acknowledge the remarkable work of our Diocesan Representative, Diane Dance, whose outreach and encouragement played a key role in raising awareness about this RFP across Huron.”
Through the RFP process, AFC awarded more than $80,000 to ministries across Canada—releasing additional funds beyond the original $50,000 envelope due to the strength of the applications. Huron received $47,500 of that total, supporting:
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The SideWalk Centre at All Saints’, Waterloo
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Creek-top Choral Sessions at Grace Church, Brantford
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Hats & Mats at St. George’s, Goderich
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Seniors’ digital literacy at St. Mark’s-by-the-Lake, Tecumseh
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Recovery and neighbourhood wellness at St. Mark’s, London
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Intergenerational community gatherings at St. Matthew’s, Florence.
Diane Dance, AFC’s Diocesan Representative for Huron, says she is deeply encouraged by the response from parishes across the region:
“Huron has always had a strong heart for community ministry, but this year’s RFP took that commitment to a new level. Our parishes showed enormous creativity and courage in naming the needs around them and building partnerships to meet those needs. I’m incredibly proud that Huron led the country in this work.”
In addition to the RFP, several Huron students received support through AFC’s 2025 bursaries, which provided $65,000 nationwide to 31 recipients discerning calls to ministry, pursuing theological studies, or serving in Indigenous, lay, and diaconal formation programs.
Across Canada, AFC’s Q4 grants supported more than 30 ministries, including large-scale capital projects, diocesan system upgrades, youth formation, community wellness, and climate education.
Huron’s strong representation in two of these categories reflects the diocese’s ongoing investment in community partnerships and leadership development.
Michelle Hauser is Development & Communications Officer for the AFC.