Local initiatives aimed at preventing crime, advancing healing and enhancing public safety are getting new funding from the BC Government.
$7.5 million is being dished out from the Civil Forfeiture Grant program, which is aimed at addressing crime through supporting public safety projects by converting forfeited assets which were the instruments or proceeds of unlawful activity.
Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Garry Begg said community safety is one of their top priorities and knows organizations in the community play a large role in effecting change.
“Whether it’s helping youth, preventing gender-based violence or supporting Indigenous healing, these investments are empowering communities to implement community-based initiatives that enhance safety.”
166 community-led projects will be supported with funding this year, which include child and youth advocacy centres, crime prevention, domestic-violence prevention/intervention programming, gender-based violence, Indigenous healing, and restorative justice.
Seven projects across the Cowichan Valley will receive funding:
- Cowichan Women Against Violence Society’s Ravens Nest CYAC Cultural Healing receiving $140,000
- Municipality of North Cowichan’s Crofton Youth Room receiving $12,046
- Warmland Women’s Support Services Society’s Pathways to Resilience: An Indigenous Men’s Healing Program receiving $23,468
- Tsow-Tun Le Lum Society’s Community Liaison for Indigenous Inmates program receiving $40,000
- Cowichan Restorative Justice Society’s Building Capacity receiving 40,000
- Restorative Justice Salt Spring Island’s Strengthening Restorative Justice Salt Spring Island program receiving $35,500
Approximately $900,000 in one-time grants have also been awarded to support specialized police equipment and training to law enforcement agencies across the province.
