Province to provide $8.6M in grants crime prevention in BC communities

The provincial government has announced new funding for communities to address crime prevention and remediation.

Communities and families dealing with gun and gang violence, individuals experiencing gender-based violence and Indigenous families healing from traumas will receive more than $8.6 million in grants to support community-based initiatives.

In total, 221 projects are receiving one-time grants through the Civil Forfeiture Crime Prevention and Remediation grant program.

The projects are led by non-profits, local governments, school districts and more.

“Over the past 15 years, most civil forfeiture cases have been related to drug, gang and organized crime. In turn, it’s appropriate that once again, some of the proceeds are going into gang prevention,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General.

“These annual grants support life-changing and even life-saving work through supporting the prevention of gang involvement and of gender-based violence and violence against women.”

This year, 34 projects related to crime prevention, including projects focused on educating youth on the impacts of gang violence, are receiving $2.2 million.

Odd Squad Productions Society is receiving $75,000 for its Gangs, Guns & Fentanyl Focus Groups project for vulnerable at-risk Indigenous youth aged 12-18.

The project will develop an online course, facilitated by drug trade and gang lifestyle experts, to reduce and prevent criminal activity, gang involvement and associated drug use.

“Today’s youth face difficult choices, enormous peer pressure and more readily available and potent drugs,” said Toby Hinton, executive director, Odd Squad Productions Society.

“Combine these factors with increased gang recruitment, and it is vital that we provide at-risk youth with the tools and resources needed to make healthy choices. This grant will allow us to provide Indigenous and other BC youth with online programs designed to build resiliency, provide education and empower positive choices with strategies needed to avoid drugs and the gang lifestyle.”