Sudbury youth restorative justice program gets financial lifeline

Greater Sudbury city council approves $75,000 in emergency funding to keep Ozzy’s Garage, a youth restorative justice program, running through 2026.

A youth restorative justice program in Sudbury that was on the brink of shutting down its operations has been thrown a lifeline by city council.

On Tuesday, councillors voted to approve $75,000 in emergency funding for Ozzy’s Garage Sudbury, keeping the program operating through the end of 2026.

The motion was moved by Ward 5 Coun. Mike Parent.

“Let’s get to individuals that may end up in this part of the system before they end up there,” Parent said.

“It’s a very small investment. The probability of federal funding coming in is pretty good. But just in case, we have the funding secured for the rest of the year.”

The money will be drawn from the city’s tax rate stabilization reserve. If third-party or federal funding is secured, the city will be reimbursed.

“We know this system has been working,” Parent said.

“We have a year’s worth of data. We don’t want to lose this opportunity.”

Founded by Rick ‘Ozzy’ Osborne and his wife Heather, Ozzy’s Garage works with at-risk youth between the ages of 13 and 19.

Was facing summer shutdown

“Otherwise, we would have had to shut down for the summer and try to find support in the fall,” Osborne said.

“And we would have lost the continuity of the young people we’re working with.”

Supported by Sudbury District Restorative Justice, the program focuses heavily on teenagers who are falling through the cracks of the social support system due to learning disabilities, emotional struggles or early interactions with the law.

In a letter of support addressed to council, executive director Jackie Bellany said Ozzy’s Garage has helped numerous youth who would otherwise lack traditional supports.

“In a relatively short period of time, the program has engaged approximately 140 youth, including 22 youth who participate on a regular basis,” the letter said.

“While providing more than 100 hours of practical skills training and mentorship.”

Osborne said roughly 30 youth are helped each month.

“We’ve had a lot of successes,” he said.

“I’m going up to Hanmer to graduate about eight kids that were part of my program up there.”

Osborne said the community faces a massive gap in services for youth transitioning into adulthood, a vulnerability his program actively works to address.

“At 18, you’re out. You’re on the street, you go to jail,” Osborne said.

Able to expand programming

“But we look at you differently. So that’s the demographic we’re really looking at -- guys who have learning disabilities, emotional problems and criminal problems who are falling through.”

He said the funding will not only keep the lights on, it will also help the program expand into a larger classroom setting.

Currently, Ozzy’s Garage operates out of a downtown Sudbury hotel, a location that comes with high rental costs. To resolve this, Parent said talks are underway with the developers of 30 St. Anne Road, a site currently being converted into a 135-unit supportive housing facility.

The developers have stepped up to offer temporary space to the youth program rent-free.

“When we approached them with this and suggested we have space, with no money, for a few months till we can kind of find a permanent location for Ozzy’s Garage, they said yes,” Parent said.

The program plans to transition from the downtown hotel to the St. Anne Road location within the next couple of weeks.

Parent also said he has been in discussions with the city’s parks and recreation department to launch a summer pilot program run by Ozzy’s Garage.

The pilot will take place in the Ryan Heights area.

“We will set up a place where they can work on, fixing up some old motor bikes and some other, equipment that the youth may feel interested in taking part,” he said.

“Young persons are going to develop knowledge of things like mechanics and develop knowledge or skills that may entice them to go into post-secondary and learn a skill or a trade, like a mechanic shop or other things.”

With funding secured for the rest of 2026, city officials remain optimistic that long-term federal backing will eventually take over.