VANCOUVER, January 21, 2005 -- Today the Honourable Stephen Owen, Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport), on behalf of the Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, along with the Honourable Rich Coleman, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General for the Province of British Columbia, announced $2,926,909 in support of 104 community-based crime prevention initiatives in British Columbia. The funding has been made available under the Government of Canada’s National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS). “Each of these projects sends a message, loud and clear, that British Columbians have taken up the challenge of preventing crime before it happens,” said Minister Owen. “The Government of Canada is proud to work towards a common cause with organizations across the province, supporting community-based initiatives that, together, will keep building a safe and healthy British Columbia.” “I am pleased that these initiatives focus on British Columbia’s youth,” said Minister Coleman. “Building positive attitudes, discouraging racism and bullying, and helping youth overcome addictions contributes to safer communities.” The NCPS takes an early-intervention approach to prevention and community safety, supporting grass-roots responses that deal with the underlying causes of crime and victimization, such as family violence, gang recruitment and substance abuse. It has identified children and youth, Aboriginal people and their communities, and the personal security of women and girls as its key priorities for advancing community-based responses to crime. Many of the projects announced today, at the Vancouver Technical Secondary School, work with and for young people. Launched in 1998, the NCPS has built on the strengths of partnerships to support over 4,400 projects nationwide. The National Strategy provides community organizations with financial support, as well as tools, knowledge, and expertise on effective crime prevention activities. As part of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, the National Strategy serves as the first link in the Government’s public safety continuum. For more information, please call the following contacts or view the attached backgrounder. - 30 - For further information: Vera Lagasse Regional Director National Crime Prevention Strategy Tel: (604) 897-0553 Renée Gillen Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport) (613) 954-1110 Mark Stokes Director, Communications National Crime Prevention Strategy Tel: (613) 954-1721 Cindy Rose Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, British Columbia Tel: (250) 356-6961 See also: Complete list of projects Backgrounder The National Crime Prevention Strategy at Work in British Columbia Building Safer Communities Safe and peaceful communities are highly valued by Canadians. The National Crime Prevention Strategy is part of the Government of Canada’s framework to help enhance the safety and security of Canadians in their homes and communities. The National Strategy links the best of local, national, and international knowledge about “what works” to prevent crime and victimization with people and organizations who are ready to put this knowledge into action. It does this by developing and sharing knowledge on effective approaches to building safer communities, and by providing funding support to help communities apply, test and evaluate promising practices in crime prevention through social development. The social and economic factors that underlie crime and victimization are often interconnected, with roots that span generations. Circumstances that affect parents tend to have an impact on their children, and problems that young people experience also affect their families. The National Crime Prevention Strategy helps to create awareness among individuals, families, communities and society as a whole of the consequences of deep-rooted things like family violence, impact of residential schools, poverty and addictions. The National Strategy is an investment in a social development approach to building safer, healthier communities. It helps Canadians to address the social and economic factors that can lead some individuals to become offenders, or victims of crime. At the same time, the National Strategy supports communities in identifying their strengths, and building on the positive, protective factors that exist in individuals, families and organizations. Partnerships in Action The goals of the National Crime Prevention Strategy are being achieved with the active participation and assistance of partners in the non-governmental, volunteer and business communities. By working in partnership, thousands of Canadians are undertaking a range of activities to involve others in understanding and addressing the root causes of crime, and developing comprehensive, sustainable, locally relevant approaches to enhance safety and security. In British Columbia, 104 projects have recently received $2,926,909 through the National Crime Prevention Strategy. Many of these initiatives focus on relationship building. Connecting people and strengthening communities is fundamental to crime prevention through social development, and is at the heart of the National Crime Prevention Strategy. Examples of some projects supported under the Strategy are: Lower Mainland: Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House has received $20,000 for its BASE (Building a Safer Environment) project. The purpose of this project is to make positive changes within Vancouver Technical Secondary School, which will lead to a safer community. Building on Phase I, this project will address risk factors, such as negative attitudes and beliefs, aggressive behaviour, and criminal activity through the implementation of a peer support system. For more information call: (604) 251-1225. Fraser Valley: Agassiz-Harrison Community Services has received $10,760 for its project, After School Peer Tutoring and Mentoring Project. This project will offer peer-mentoring opportunities to youth in the Agassiz-Harrison area. Activities involve the whole community and focus on increasing the capacity to address youth issues and encourage positive social development. For more information call: (604) 796-2585. North West: Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’s Society will receive $30,000 for its project, H.O.Y.O.P. (Helping our Young Ones Prosper). This project aims to build positive attitudes, values, and beliefs through active community partnerships. Youth and older generations will have an opportunity to incorporate Nisga’ culture into their everyday lives. For more information call: (250) 627-1595. North East: Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society will receive $25,000 for its project, Prevention of Racism, Bullying and Hate Crimes through Youth Leadership. Through education and training opportunities, this project aims to empower youth and encourage peer leadership to combat racism, bullying, and hate crimes. For more information call: (250) 562-2900. Kootenay: Safer Community Initiative Team will receive $38,617 for its Youth Activities Program. This project aims to reduce at-risk behaviour among youth in Creston Valley. By using current information, statistics, and expertise from partners, this project will develop positive activities for youth as an alternative to behaviour associated with crime and victimization. For more information call: (250) 428-7744. Interior: The Cariboo Chicoltin Metis Association has received $35,000 for its project, Believe in Yourself. By educating youth on the physical, mental, social and spiritual harms associated with addiction and crime, the project aims to encourage youth to choose healthy, crime-free and addiction-free lifestyles. For more information call: (250) 398-5327. Vancouver Island: Capital Regional District Traffic Safety Commission has received $34,400 for its project, An Alternative to Roadside Memorials: Working with High Risk Youth to Reduce Criminal Driving Behaviour and its Resulting Deaths and Injuries. The purpose of this project is to reduce youth involvement in illegal driving activities and/or related injury and death in the Victoria region. Activities will focus on a public education campaign, awareness program, and a curriculum for intervention at the school level. For more information call: (250) 883-1639. More information about the National Crime Prevention Strategy can be found at our website: www.prevention.gc.ca.
