Greater Victoria NDP MLAs says funding will support crime prevention projects

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VICTORIA –New Democrat MLAs Grace Lore, Lana Popham, Rob Fleming, and Murray Rankin say that people in Greater Victoria will benefit from projects that will advance public safety, help prevent violence, and promote healing.

“When people have access to the services and care that they need our communities thrive” said Grace Lore, MLA for Victoria-Beacon Hill. “Funding for these organizations will allow them to continue running the on-the-ground programs that help people and communities.”

In Victoria, Oak Bay, and South Saanich, 15 projects are receiving a total of $704,774 to implement crime prevention and remediation projects in their community. Local projects include:

  • Bike Victoria Society, Roots Bike Club Mentorship Program, $34,270
  • Child Abuse Prevention and Counselling Society of Greater Victoria, Child and Youth Advocacy Centres – $140,000
  • John Howard Society of Victoria, KidStart Program – $40,000
  • The Metis Nation of Greater Victoria, 2 SLGBTQQIA+ Kaa-Wiichihitoyaahk Series – $40,000
  • Peer2Peer Indigenous Society, Indigenous Women’s Healing Circle – $40,000
  • Police Victim Services of BC, PVSBC 2025 Training Symposium – $60,000
  • SOLID Outreach Society, Peer Based Leadership in Community Safety – $35,270
  • Support Network for Indigenous Women and Women of Colour (SNIWWOC), Breathe: a Community Centered Approach to Healing – $36,129
  • Umbrella Society for Addictions and Mental Health, Outreach to Vancouver Island Regional Correction Centre – $40,000
  • Vancouver Island Men’s Therapy Centre Society, No One Left Behind Program – $39,105
  • University of Victoria Human and Social Development Faculty, Advancing of Healthy Relationship Skills Program, $40,000
  • VIDEA, Creative Spaces of Resiliency – $40,000
  • Victoria Hospitals Foundation, Gathering our Medicine, Community of Practice Initiative, $40,000
  • Victoria Sexual Assault Centre, Volunteer Coordinator Training, $40,000
  • Victoria Sexual Assault Centre, k ʷəné ŋətəl iʔ iʔsaət Indigenous Response Network (IRN), $40,000

“Victoria is home to outstanding organizations supporting people and helping them where they are at,” said Rob Fleming, MLA for Victoria-Swan Lake. “More funding will allow these organizations to continue ongoing projects and take on new work in the community.”

The New Democrat government is providing $8.2 million in one-time grants through the Civil Forfeiture Grant Program to support 189 community projects across the province. These projects are being led by local governments, community-based not-for-profits, school districts, health authorities, academic institutions, police departments and Indigenous organizations.

The Civil Forfeiture Office was established in 2006 with the purpose of removing the tools and proceeds of unlawful activity and redirecting them back into programs that support community safety and crime prevention initiatives.

Learn More:

Provincial News Release: https://news.gov.bc.ca/30892

Additional Quotes:

“After someone has experienced a crime, victim services can be pivotal in their recovery process,” said Lana Popham, MLA for Saanich South. “I’m pleased this funding will help Police Victim Services of BC train and upskill more people to support victims when they need it most.”

“Public safety is important to our communities, and programs that address healing as well as building healthy skills can help keep people and communities safer and happier,” said Murray Rankin, MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head. “These programs receiving funding will do important work in their areas that will have long-lasting positive effects.”