Government of Canada announces over $3.7 million in funding for projects to help prevent firearm-related harm

On November 25, 2025, the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety, announced over $3.7 million in federal funding through the "Red Flag" Awareness Initiative.

On November 25, 2025, the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety, announced over $3.7 million in federal funding through the "Red Flag" Awareness Initiative.

This funding supports 23 organizations in communities across Canada on projects to help raise awareness of "Red Flag" laws among individuals at risk of firearm-related harm, including women, Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, and people experiencing mental health conditions.

Recipient: Public Legal Education Association of Saskatchewan

Project title: Saskatchewan Red Flag Laws Awareness Project

Total funding amount: $40,104.00

This project will provide plain language legal information on "Red Flag" laws for victims, Indigenous communities, rural and remote communities, and the general public of Saskatchewan, through print, online platforms and videos, and direct email and phone support.

"'Funding from Public Safety Canada will allow the Public Legal Education Association of Saskatchewan to develop plain language legal information in a variety of formats, including infographics, videos, a poster, and online, to educate the public about Canada's Red Flag laws and to provide information about making applications under these laws. Raising awareness of these laws and how they work is key to them being effective in preventing firearm-related harm. This project would not be possible without the support of Public Safety Canada.''

- Joel Janow, Executive Director, Public Legal Education Association of Saskatchewan

Recipient: Pembina Crisis Connection Society

Project title: Empowerment Through Protection: Mobilizing 'Red Flag' Law Awareness Across Rural Brazeau County, Alberta

Total funding amount: $91,588.00

This project will ensure that individuals from high-risk groups, including victims of gender-based and intimate partner violence, individuals experiencing mental health crises, Indigenous peoples, and residents of rural and underserved communities receive accessible and accurate information on how "Red Flag" laws operate and how to apply them in real-world contexts. These audiences will be engaged inclusively using an evidence-based framework built on community experience and academic research, including trauma-informed and victim-centred approaches. Under this framework, the project will deliver information on "Red Flag" laws through a combination of community-based workshops, webinars, printed toolkits, and one-on-one navigation services.

Recipient: Low Entropy Foundation

Project title: Breaking the Cycle: Using Red Flag Laws to Prevent Violence and Harm

Total funding amount: $100,000.00

This project will educate and empower individuals at risk of firearm-related harm by increasing awareness of Red Flag laws and providing accessible, culturally relevant information on how to apply for emergency prohibition and emergency limitations on access orders. This project will help to equip victims, survivors, and community organizations, specifically Indigenous people, survivors of gender-based violence, and individuals experiencing mental health challenges, with the knowledge and tools to prevent firearm-related violence, intimate partner violence, gender-based violence, and suicide. Key activities include culturally safe legal education workshops, a "Red Flag" Law toolkit, community awareness and outreach, digital and print awareness campaigns and peer mentor training.

"Our community in the Lower Mainland is grateful for this support because spreading awareness of Red Flag Laws will help families and individuals realize that they can protect loved ones, prevent violence, and look out for one another using safe legal tools. By empowering people with knowledge, we believe that community wellbeing grows."

- Vanessa Wideski, Founder, Low Entropy Foundation

Recipient: Vancouver Young Women's Christian Association

Project title: YWCA Red Flag Awareness Project

Total funding amount: $103,732.00

This project will help people at risk of violence understand how to apply for emergency court orders and what protections are available, while also increasing awareness of how red flag laws work to prevent firearm-related harm. The project will include creating and sharing a public service announcement video and social media content through paid advertising, delivering internal staff training, and hosting workshops for victims and individuals at risk of gun violence, including women, Indigenous peoples, racialized communities and people experiencing mental health conditions.

"At YWCA Metro Vancouver, we are working towards a future that is free from gender-based violence. By raising awareness about 'Red Flag' laws, we can ensure people who are experiencing violence or are at risk of violence understand the protective resources available to them. Collaboration is critical in addressing gender-based violence, and we appreciate Public Safety Canada's support in helping us provide practical information to the community."

Erin Seeley, CEO, YWCA Metro Vancouver

Recipient: Yukon Public Legal Education Association

Project title: Red Flag Laws Publication and Information Sessions

Total funding amount: $111,228.00

This project will provide information on "Red Flag" laws to individuals at risk of fire-arm related harm, and to supporting organizations through a publication specific to Yukon and information sessions provided to rural and remote communities.

"The Red Flag Awareness funding has been critical in allowing us to provide outreach and educational activities related to increasing awareness of Red Flag laws, and access to legal information. Using the Red Flag Awareness funding we will be able to provide outreach to rural and remote communities across the Yukon as well as within the urban centre of Whitehorse, providing information regarding these legislative changes and increasing knowledge of the justice system."

Baird Mackinson, Executive Director, Yukon Public Legal Education Association

Recipient: Mountain Rose Women's Shelter Association

Project title: Reducing Firearm-Related Intimate Partner and Gender-based Violence Through Awareness and Intervention Project

Total funding amount: $134,095.00

This project will focus on delivering trauma-informed, plain-language public legal education, outreach, and knowledge mobilization to individuals and communities at risk of firearm-related harm, with a focus on survivors of gender-based violence, individuals accessing mental health or well-being services, and those in Indigenous, rural, and marginalized communities. Support will be provided through mobile and in-person services, educational materials, community workshops, public awareness campaigns, and training for service providers such as law enforcement, frontline workers, and community partners.

"Early awareness and community education save lives. The Red Flag Awareness Initiative allows us to empower rural residents, service providers, and families with the knowledge and tools to intervene safely and effectively when firearms and violence pose a risk."

- Cindy Easton, Executive Director, Mountain Rose Women's Shelter Association

Recipient: Calgary Young Women's Christian Association

Project title: Signal for Safety: YW Calgary's Red Flag Awareness Initiative

Total funding amount: $157,072.00

This project will educate, empower, and raise awareness about "Red Flag" laws and other protection and safety tools among at-risk individuals and service providers, such as community-based organizations in Calgary that focus on victims and those at risk of victimization, particularly victims of gender-based violence. This includes providing actionable information, fostering a supportive community atmosphere, and ensuring that community groups are well-informed and equipped to utilize these protections effectively. Key activities will include a social media awareness campaign, a dedicated webpage on "Red Flag" laws, and informational workshops that provide guidance on how to use these laws effectively.

"This initiative drives early intervention and education, empowering individuals and service providers to act decisively when risk emerges. With this funding, YW Calgary is able to equip communities with clear, practical information on legal tools that protect well-being and prevent harm in high-risk situations, turning awareness into action."

Lisa Lintott, Research and Evaluation Specialist, Calgary Young Women's Christian Association

Recipient: Women's Centre for Social Justice

Project title: Flagged for Safety: Survivor-Led Strategies to Navigate "Red Flag" Protections

Total funding amount: $159,500.00

This project will increase awareness of "Red Flag" laws and related protective measures to the diverse population of survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) in Ontario, including 2SLGBTQQIA+, Indigenous, and Black communities who may be at risk of firearm-related harm. Guided by a trauma-informed and survivor-led approach, the initiative will help survivors understand their legal rights, reduce risk, and access protective supports. It will develop plain-language, Ontario-specific educational materials in collaboration with legal organizations and survivors, and share them through peer navigators, legal clinics, frontline GBV organizations, and a digital hub. The project will also offer workshops, webinars, and a provincial survivor-led conference to build legal literacy, promote safety planning, and strengthen cross-sector support. By embedding legal education into existing safety tools and centering lived experience, the project will empower survivors, service providers, and communities to confidently access legal protections and improve overall safety.

"We are deeply grateful to Public Safety Canada for providing funding support for our project, "Flagged for Safety: Survivor-Led Strategies to Navigate 'Red Flag' Protections." This critical, survivor-led project aims to implement new strategies for safety and 'Red Flag' protective measures. The funding will allow us to develop a risk assessment tool that accurately reflects survivor risk levels to help service providers provide enhanced support and increase safety measures and advocacy strategies. The funding will also help us develop comprehensive safety planning resources that address firearm-related harm while delivering effective support to survivors in navigating various systems. Ultimately, this support from Public Safety will improve capacity across the gender-based violence sector that will save lives and create safer communities across the province."

- Women's Centre for Social Justice

Recipient: Kamloops Sexual Assault Counselling Centre Society

Project title: Increasing Safety: Education on Red Flag Laws and Other Protective Orders in BC's Interior

Total funding amount: $167,371.00

This project will increase safety for survivors of violence by mobilizing knowledge about "Red Flag" laws, the different protective orders that exist, how to apply for emergency orders, and other strategies to help prevent firearm-related deaths amongst survivors and the wider public.

Recipient: Red Deer Polytechnic

Project title: See the Signs: A Red Flag Awareness Project for Safer Campuses

Total funding amount: $167,618.00

This project will raise awareness and improve access to "Red Flag" laws on post-secondary campuses in Central Alberta, focusing on equity-deserving students, including Indigenous, LGBTQ2S+, newcomer, rural, and marginalized groups. It will provide students, faculty, and staff with the knowledge and tools to recognize warning signs, understand legal safety options, and respond effectively, especially in situations involving mental health, gender-based violence, or threats to campus safety. The trauma-informed and culturally safe programming includes awareness campaigns, workshops, online learning, peer leader training, and a Campus Toolkit. By combining community input, legal expertise, and mental health best practices, the project will help create safer, more resilient campuses that can serve as a model across Alberta's post-secondary sector and beyond.

Recipient: The Board of Governors of Mount Royal University

Project title: Addressing Gender-Based Violence on Campus: "Red Flag" Laws Project

Total funding amount: $172,950.00

This project will enhance the campus community's understanding and response to "Red Flag" laws in the context of gender-based violence. It aims to ensure that students, staff, and faculty, particularly those in positions where they may receive disclosures of gender-based violence, such as campus security, wellness services, and student community standards personnel, are well-informed about "Red Flag" laws and equipped to recognize, respond, and refer to appropriate resources. References to "Red Flag" laws will be included in all gender-based violence education and materials, and specialized workshops will be offered to build deeper knowledge. By reaching a broad cross-section of the campus, the project will help ensure that anyone who may encounter gender-based violence disclosures is equipped to take appropriate action.

Recipient: Public Legal Information Association of Newfoundland

Project title: Raising Awareness of Red Flag Laws and Procedures in NL

Total funding amount: $179,450.00

This project will spread awareness of Red Flag laws as well the procedures to follow to seek a protective order under this legislation. Working in close partnership with legal and community stakeholders throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, key activities will include developing plain language resources in print and online, a media campaign, and dedicated in-person presentations. While the focus is on survivors and those at risk of gender-based violence, the project will also reach a wider audience.

"We are grateful for this funding opportunity from Public Safety Canada and look forward to collaborating with our community partners and legal stakeholders across Newfoundland and Labrador to develop and share resources on Red Flag laws. These are important legal and public safety tools, particularly for individuals disproportionately targeted by intimate partner violence. This initiative will strengthen PLIAN's ongoing public legal education efforts through the Journey Project, which has provided legal support navigation over 1,575 survivors of gender-based violence and offered trauma-informed training to thousands of lawyers, judges, court staff, law enforcement members, and other service providers."

Kevin O'Shea, Executive Director, Public Legal Information Association of Newfoundland

Recipient: Manitoba Association of Women's Shelters Inc.

Project title: Empowering GBV Shelter Staff and Service Users through Education on "Red Flag" Laws

Total funding amount: $181,908.00

This project will educate Manitoba's gender-based violence (GBV) emergency shelter staff and their service users about "Red Flag" laws, focusing on how these laws can help prevent firearm-related harm. The initiative will provide comprehensive information on applying for emergency prohibition orders and emergency limitations on access orders, ensuring that shelter staff, clients and the general public understand their legal protections. In addition to training sessions, the project will create and distribute community-led, culturally responsive resources, informational brochures, and a dedicated webpage to further spread awareness of "Red Flag" laws.

Recipient: Temiskaming Native Women's Support Group

Project title: Increasing Advocacy through Red Flag Laws to Reduce Violence Experienced by Indigenous Peoples in Temiskaming

Total funding amount: $185,339.00

This project will increase local understanding and awareness of "Red Flag" Laws among Indigenous Peoples in the District of Temiskaming through staff training, workshops, and development of resources (brochures and information packages). The project will target the key audiences of rural, Indigenous Peoples with an emphasis on women and youth. To ensure culturally relevant programming to this target audience in an Indigenous context, the project proposes a discreet way of engaging participants for knowledge mobilization. This includes pairing workshops with a cultural recreation activity (beading, canoeing, medicine walk, drumming) to allow participation among those who may not be in a safe situation to openly attend an educational violence prevention/support workshop.

Recipient: Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver

Project title: Mobilizing Knowledge of Red Flag Laws for Victims and Those at Risk of Domestic, Intimate Partner, and Gender-Based Violence

Total funding amount: $185,796.00

This project will raise awareness of "Red Flag" laws among individuals at risk, including Indigenous, 2SLGBTQ+, racialized, newcomer, and rural communities in British Columbia and the Yukon, to reduce firearm-related harm, build trust in legal systems, and empower communities to take steps towards safety. Using a trauma-informed, survivor-centered approach, the initiative will share clear, culturally relevant information through bilingual workshops, digital platforms, and outreach. It will offer plain-language resources along with step-by-step guidance on how to apply for protective orders and access related supports like peace bonds and no-contact orders. Legal experts, community leaders, and survivors will be involved to ensure the content is accurate and grounded in lived experience.

Recipient: The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)

Project title: Promoting Safety Among people with mental health conditions and those at risk of suicide: increasing awareness to Red Flag Law

Total funding amount: $192,307.00

This project will raise awareness of "Red Flag" laws among people accessing mental health and wellbeing services. Through partnerships and a broad network of trained peer support workers and suicide prevention trainers, the project will increase the level of knowledge among more than one million people accessing CMHA mental health services, the more than 7,000 frontline staff who support them, and the general public, to access the protections offered under "Red Flag" laws. This initiative will be undertaken through dissemination of carefully created resources through an evidence-based knowledge mobilization campaign.

Recipient: Canadian Council of Muslim Women

Project title: Understanding Red Flag Laws: Education & Awareness for Canadian Muslim Women

Total funding amount: $192,500.00

This project will raise awareness of "Red Flag" laws among Muslim women, gender-diverse individuals, and other marginalized communities at risk of firearm-related harm, to empower them with knowledge and tools to stay safe, build trust in legal systems, and reduce firearm-related harm across Canada. The project will use a culturally responsive, trauma-informed approach to reach refugees, newcomers, and others facing barriers such as language isolation or distrust of legal systems. Educational materials will be written in plain language, translated into French, Urdu, Somali, Arabic, and Farsi, and shared through bilingual workshops, webinars, and a multilingual social media campaign. The initiative will also provide information on related legal protections, such as peace bonds and restraining orders, and connect individuals to shelters and legal clinics for safety planning.

Recipient: Ottawa Victim Services Inc.

Project title: See It, Name It, Change It: Expanding Red Flag Law Education and Support

Total funding amount: $199,571.00

This project will build on the "See It, Name It, Change It" initiative – a community education campaign originally developed by Lanark County Interval House and Community Support to increase awareness of the warning signs of Intimate Partner Violence and promote safe, informed intervention in rural communities. With support from Lanark County Interval House and community support, Ottawa Victim Services has adapted and urbanized the campaign for Ottawa's diverse, densely populated environment. This project will adapt this shared program to integrate education about "Red Flag" laws into the campaign to expand public knowledge, reach high-risk populations, and prevent firearm-related harm. It will make information about Red Flag laws more accessible, helping people recognize risk, seek protection, and support others in doing the same.The project focuses on survivors of gender-based violence, people from Indigenous, marginalized, rural, or Northern communities, and members of the public who may be in a position to help. A GBA+ lens will guide the work to ensure the needs and barriers of these communities are addressed.

Recipient: Infinity Women Secretariat

Project title: Safety Champions – Raising Awareness of the "Red Flag" Laws

Total funding amount: $200,000.00

This project will raise awareness about proactive steps, such as using "Red Flag" laws and address the unique challenges Infinity Women Secretariat (IWS) members face, particularly in communities with limited resources. Many Métis communities lack safe houses for gender-based violence (GBV) survivors, leaving women vulnerable and without immediate refuge. The project aims to bridge this gap by equipping Red River Métis women, girls, and 2SLGBTQ+ individuals with the legal knowledge and tools to protect themselves. It will feature personalized safety plans and "Safety Champions", trusted and knowledgeable leaders across Manitoba, who will be trained through the program and recruited as project participants to help share tools, support safety planning, and raise awareness about "Red Flag" laws and firearm-related gender-based violence. IWS will work with partners, law enforcement, and victim service agencies to strengthen outreach and impact. Through education, safety planning, community engagement, and raising awareness, IWS aims to build a supportive network that will help Red River Métis women reclaim their agency and navigate challenging situations, while ensuring their safety and well-being.

Recipient: University of Western Ontario

Project title: Red Flag Law Awareness: Protecting Against Firearm Harm in Gender-Based Violence

Total funding amount: $200,000.00

This project will raise awareness of Canada's "Red Flag" laws, including emergency prohibition orders and emergency limitations on access orders. Knowledge mobilization products will be produced for rural audiences and gender-based violence service providers through Neighbours, Friends and Families infrastructure (NFF), family law professionals through the Family Violence Family Law (FVFL) Awareness to Action partnerships, communities of practice, and the Learning Network (LN). Draft materials for each of the NFF, FVFL and LN audiences will be reviewed by these advisory groups prior to dissemination, and advisory members will be part of discussions on how ensuring the broadest possible reach for knowledge mobilization activities.

"A significant proportion of domestic homicide-related deaths are caused by firearms. "Red Flag" laws provide essential safety measures to address the role of firearms in gender-based violence and reduce harm. CREVAWC is honoured to contribute to the "Red Flag" Laws Awareness Initiative through Public Safety Canada to support education on the important protections available to prevent firearm-related gender-based violence. Our work focuses on developing and sharing written and multimedia resources on Red Flag laws to family law professionals, gender-based violence service providers, and as part of public education to neighbours, friends and family members concerned about intimate partner violence."

Katreena Scott, Academic Director, Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children, Western University

Recipient: Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC)

Project title: Red Flag Laws: Culturally Relevant, Trauma-Informed, and Gender-Based Resources for Indigenous Women in All Their Diversity

Total funding amount: $200,000.00

This project will increase knowledge and understanding for decision-making in Canada's public safety systems by providing culturally relevant, trauma-informed, and accessible resources on "Red Flag" laws, informed by expert consultation and tailored to the needs of Indigenous women. It will support Indigenous women, particularly those who are victims or may be victims of gender-based violence, as well as marginalized, rural, and/or Northern communities. Resources on "Red Flag" Laws, including a Toolkit informed by expert consultants, factsheets (in English and three Indigenous languages), will be developed and disseminated through print-outs/mail-outs, on NWAC's website, social media, and NWAC's networks.

Recipient: Family Service Saskatoon

Project title: Empowering Safety: Bridging IPV and Red Flag Laws

Total funding amount: $200,000.00

This project will promote awareness, share resources, and empower people to access "Red Flag" laws through a multi-faceted approach that combines education, engagement, and empowerment. The intersection of firearms and intimate partner violence (IPV) presents a pressing concern, particularly for women living in provinces such as Saskatchewan where services, transportation and access to information can be limited, especially for those living in rural areas. The project will develop three learning modules: in-person workshops, online modules, and a module for professionals/organizations, including those who work with diverse groups. The project facilitator will provide workshops on a regular basis, either in-person or virtually, to existing clients as well as to community agencies, educational institutions, law enforcement, justice systems, and Indigenous organizations. All recorded, print, and digital materials will be made available on the organization's website and social media.

"The Red Flag Awareness Initiative funding enables Family Service Saskatoon to address the urgent intersection of firearms and intimate partner violence, particularly in underserved rural communities. Through the development and delivery of accessible educational modules and strategic partnerships, this support empowers us to raise awareness, share vital resources, and foster safer environments. By equipping individuals and professionals with knowledge about Red Flag Laws, we are building a more informed and proactive community that can recognize risks and take action to prevent harm."

Janine Baumann, Executive Director, Family Service Saskatoon

Recipient: Provincial Association Of Transition Houses Saskatchewan (PATHS)

Project title: Red Flag Awareness

Total funding amount: $200,000.00

This project will support its members through research, training, and peer support, ensuring that staff providing direct service to individuals impacted or at risk of intimate partner and family violence are educated on current legislation, including "Red Flag" laws. The project will inform frontline gender-based violence (GBV) specialists, expand outreach to other human service professionals, and raise public awareness through radio ads, media posts, webinars, workshops, an online micro-course to reach diverse audiences, and a dedicated webpage. An online learning module and toolkit will be developed and hosted on PATHS' Learning Management System for ongoing staff training. The project align with PATHS' mandate to create safer communities and includes a targeted inclusion strategy for marginalized populations such as newcomers, 2SLGBTQI+, individuals living with disabilities, and Indigenous communities. Educational materials will be delivered through multiple formats to reach diverse audiences across Saskatchewan, which has the highest per capita rate of police-reported intimate partner violence and homicide among the provinces.

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