The province is doling out $11.8 million in grants to support crime prevention and remediation initiatives.
In total, 267 projects – led by community not-for-profits, school districts, and others – will receive a one-time grant through the Civil Forfeiture Crime Prevention and Remediation grant program.
Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Mike Farnworth, said taking the proceeds of crime and putting them back into our communities “is just one of the many ways we’re enhancing the services that people count on.”
“These grants support programs that make our communities safer, including those that prevent domestic violence, deter youth from engaging in a life of crime, and help people rebuild and heal from trauma.”
Among the programs and initiatives benefiting include:
- The John Howard Society of North Island, Campbell River, $65,000. KidStart: This project will provide a mentoring program for children and youth between the ages of six and 18, who are at-risk of mental health and/or substance use challenges and vulnerable to becoming involved in the criminal justice system. It matches at-risk children and youth to trained volunteer adult mentors to spend three hours per week participating in pro-social activities.
- Campbell River Volunteer Society, $30,000. The funds will go to the society’s Building Our Community Pathway to Healing. It’s a project that will include experiential workshops, the development of reconciliation plans for selected organizations, and the creation of a cultural audit tool to increase Campbell River residents’ understanding of Indigenous experiences. It will include topics such as discrimination and trauma and will increase awareness and commitment for supporting the healing of Indigenous families and individuals.
- Community Justice Centre of the Comox Valley Society, $29,970. This project will bring to the community a multi-arts-based series of presentations highlighting the sources and effectiveness of restorative justice and restorative practices “for building a stronger community.”
Programs and services that support people experiencing domestic violence and sexual assault, along with programs that target the prevention and intervention of domestic violence, are receiving more than $3.5 million.
The remaining grants will help fund community initiatives that address crime prevention, support child and youth advocacy centres, address Indigenous healing and rebuilding, enhance restorative justice and target human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
