WATCH: Ottawa announced more boots on the ground and more money to fund anti-gang youth programs in Surrey. The hope is that programs designed to keep kids off the streets can keep them away from criminal influence. Jeremy Hunka reports.
When it comes to gang prevention Joe Calendino says every tactic counts. And he would know better than most.
“Yeah, I spent the majority of my life invested in a certain lifestyle,” said Calendino. “I ended up being a full-patch member of the Hells Angels.”
Today Calendino tries to prevent kids from following in his footsteps, even teaching Qigong as part of his Yo Bro Youth Initiative in Surrey.
Calendino’s work in preventing gang violence may be getting a boost after the government announced $3.5 million in funding over five years for the Surrey gang reduction program.
Kerry-Lynne D. Findlay, the Member of Parliament for Delta-Richmond East, said the federal government will also be supporting community-level programs for youth and families at risk.
“For Surrey School District to be the beneficiary of this funding that is coming down the pipeline, it speaks volumes that we’re taking steps in the right direction,” said Calendino.
At the same time the federal government has announced it will put an additional 100 RCMP officers on the streets of Surrey to help fight gang violence.
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Former B.C. Solicitor General Kash Heed says it may be a while before those officers will be on duty.
“I think the full contingent–it’s going to be upwards of two years before it actually takes place because you have to remember that there’s limited training capacity at the Regina training academy for the RCMP,” said Heed.
Doug Elford of the Newton Community Association Spokesperson says the announcement of additional officers may be a case of too little too late.
“Are we past the tipping point? Yes. These 100 officers–everybody has identified Surrey as being understaffed. So are we just playing catch-up now and catching up to where we’re at?”
But you won’t hear complaints from Calendino, who says that when it comes to funding for gang prevention, every little bit helps.
-with files from Jeremy Hunka and Yuliya Talmazan
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