Backgrounder

Date: January 15, 2009

Release: Immediate

Backgrounder: Government of Canada takes action to prevent crime in British Columbia

The Government of Canada is committed to keeping our communities safe, which is why we are focusing crime prevention projects on those who are most at risk. Through the National Crime Prevention Centre, we are providing close to $3.2 million to support five crime prevention projects that will reach out to at-risk youth in British Columbia.

The following projects will work to prevent crime in local communities in British Columbia:

1. Board of Education, School District #36 (Surrey, BC) - Wraparound Surrey: A Youth Driven Comprehensive Plan for Gang Violence Prevention. This project will work with youth between the ages of 11 and 17 who are currently enrolled in a Surrey District school and are at-risk of joining gangs or already engaged in gang activity. Each participant will receive an individualized plan of care to address specific risk factors for gang involvement. Project activities will also include training for front-line staff and a gang prevention education program for all Surrey District schools. The Surrey School District received a contribution of $888,107 over three years. 
2. Vancouver Aboriginal Youth - Vancouver Police Department Working Group (Vancouver, BC) – Creating Healthy Aboriginal Role Models (C.H.A.R.M).This is a collaborative project that works with Aboriginal youth between the ages of 12 and 23 who are at-risk of joining gangs. Project activities will focus on reconnecting youth with their culture, engage them in a series of learning sessions that address the risk factors associated with gang involvement and provide skills development training.Sports and recreation activities, as well as mentorship will also be offered. The Vancouver Aboriginal Youth - Vancouver Police Department Working Group received a contribution of $1,234,365 over 30 months. 
3. McCreary Centre Society (Cranbrook, Bella Bella, Prince Rupert, Lytton, Westbank, Courtenay, Hazelton, Prince George, Chase) – Aboriginal Next Steps II: Aboriginal Youth Getting’ Bizy in the Community. This project will work with Aboriginal youth between the ages of 13 and 19 who are at-risk of criminal involvement due to substance use. The project will implement a series of youth-driven workshops in nine BC communities that provide participants with a forum in which to address key issues of vulnerability in their community, such as substance abuse and criminal involvement. The McCreary Centre Society received a contribution of $408,146 over two years.
4. Urban Native Youth Association (UNYA) (Vancouver, BC) – Aboriginal Youth First: Sports and Recreation Program for Vancouver Downtown Eastside. This project will work with Aboriginal youth and young adults living in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside who are at-risk of criminal involvement and substance abuse. Project activities will address key risk factors associated with substance use and crime, while engaging participants in leadership, sports and recreation activities. The Urban Native Youth Association (UNYA) received a contribution of $342,834 over three years.
5. College of New Caledonia – Lakes District Campus (Burns Lake, BC) - Youth Outreach Program.This project will work with Aboriginal youth between the ages of 13 and 18 who exhibit characteristics of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), but may not be formally diagnosed, are at-risk of criminal involvement or who already have a criminal history. Project activities will address multiple risk factors such as substance abuse, family violence and anti-social behaviour. The goal of this project is to divert high risk youth away from violence and crime in order to lead more productive and positive lives. The College of New Caledonia – Lakes District Campus received a contribution of $308,364 over 34 months. This project is also part of the National Anti-Drug Strategy (NADS): www.nationalantidrugstrategy.gc.ca.