BC NDP MLAs Rotchford and Lajeunesse say funding will support community safety and crime prevention on the West Shore

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COLWOOD – BC New Democrat MLAs Darlene Rotchford and Dana Lajeunesse say that people on the West Shore will benefit from provincial funding for community safety projects led by local organizations.

“Organizations like these funded in our community make our families and loved ones safer and support the people most at risk,” said Darlene Rotchford, MLA for Esquimalt-Colwood. “This work is important to continue creating positive change in our community”

In the West Shore region, five projects are receiving a total of $191,000. Local projects include:

  • Pacific Centre Family Services Association – $40,000 for Gender-Base Violence Support Services
  • Peers Victoria Resource Society – $40,000 for Violence Prevention and Response Program
  • T’Sou-ke Nation – $31,000 for Courageous Connections program

“Being able to access opportunities for healing is essential for people, and to be able to recognize and do the work of recovery from traumatic experiences,” said Dana Lajeunesse, MLA for Juan de Fuca-Malahat. “With this funding, I’m pleased to know that more people will now be able to get the support they need to recuperate and grow.”

The BC New Democrat government is providing $8.23 million through the Civil Forfeiture Grant Program, supporting 173 community-led projects across the province. The funding comes from the seized proceeds of unlawful activity, which are redirected back into making our communities safer.

Projects receiving this funding focus on areas including crime prevention, Indigenous healing, restorative justice, addressing gender-based and domestic violence, child and youth supports, and addressing hate crimes.

This year, the new anti-hate funding stream supports organizations and meeting places for groups that may be at higher-risk of hate-motivated crimes, like LGBTQ2S+, faith-based, or minority cultural groups.

Learn More:

https://news.gov.bc.ca/33846

https://news.gov.bc.ca/33822