KELOWNA–The province is offering the largest-ever one-time grants investment in community crime prevention.
The $7.2 million province-wide investment combines $5.5 million in provincial Civil Forfeiture Office proceeds and $1.6 million from criminal forfeiture proceeds.
Kelowna Recipients:
• Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs: $100,000 for the Elevate: Skills Building for At-Risk Youth project. This will provide at risk youth with safe and welcoming spaces; facilitate access to education, offer pre-employment training and assistance to secure appropriate employment; assist youth to develop life and leadership skills; and provide recreational activities.
• Central Okanagan Elizabeth Fry Society:
o $70,000 for the Kelowna Highest Risk Domestic Violence Unit which is comprised of a RCMP DV Officer, Community Based Victim Services and a Child Protection Worker from the Ministry of Children and Family Development. Funding will be used to enhance the capacity of the community-based victim service worker to meet increased demand.
o $40,000 for the Okanagan Child and Youth Advocacy Centre. This project seeks to support the development of a safe, accessible, collaborative service that offers respectful and compassionate care for Okanagan children and youth who have experienced abuse as well as their caregivers.
• Okanagan College: $29,234 for a Safety Awareness Project that builds upon a recent awareness campaign on Okanagan College’s newly developed sexual violence policy and protocol. Funding will support targeted activities identified by the Student Associations. And will take place on all four Okanagan College campuses in Kelowna, Penticton, Salmon Arm and Vernon.
“Crime should not pay. This year marks a decade of civil forfeiture in B.C. – and 10 years of giving back to the community,” says Steve Thomson, MLA for Kelowna-Mission. “These funds will support these organizations and the meaningful work they are doing to address violence and keep people safe.”
In all, more than 250 projects and programs in B.C. will benefit from this one-time grant program.
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