PARKSVILLE – MLA Stephanie Higginson says that people of Parksville will benefit from projects that will advance public safety, help prevent violence, and promote healing.

“This funding will make a meaningful difference in the lives of Indigenous families here in Parksville who are grieving the traumatic loss of a loved one,” said Stephanie Higginson, MLA for Ladysmith – Oceanside. “I’m grateful for the work Lumara Grief & Bereavement Care Society does by providing culturally rooted healing and community-based care. Programs like this not only honour traditional knowledge—they also build stronger, more resilient communities across B.C.”

Parksville’s Lumara Grief & Bereavement Care Society is receiving $40,000.00 for their Family Grief and Loss Support project in B.C. This project will provide grief & loss support for 300 Indigenous children, youth, and adults living with the traumatic loss of a loved one due to homicide, suicide, overdose or other causes, by connecting them with an Elder to support them at family & youth retreats, counselling, and support groups, offering Elder-led grief & loss healing circles in Indigenous communities, and education for professionals to deepen understanding of Indigenous practices.

The New Democrat government is providing $9.1M in one-time grants through the Civil Forfeiture Grant Program to support 166 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.

$900,000 of the $9.1M will support specialized police equipment and training, $500,000 will support the Anti-Hate Community Support Fund, and $200,000 will support the response to the April 26 tragedy after the Lapu Lapu festival.

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.

Quote from Lumara Grief & Bereavement Care:

“Extreme grief impacts thousands of Indigenous people in BC every day on a disproportionate scale that often stems from the long-lasting impacts of residential schools and ongoing trauma. When loss causes those who are grieving to withdraw and isolate themselves, this can significantly impact their mental health for a lengthy time including heightened risks for clinical depression, anxiety, suicide, homelessness, addictions, crime, and victimization. We are grateful to the Province of BC for funding Lumara’s Grief and Loss Support Program for Indigenous families. Guided by an Indigenous Advisory Council and with a highly gifted and knowledgeable Indigenous Cultural Support Worker and Elder embedded on our core team, we are able to provide culturally safe grief and loss services and programs that are helping to mitigate the devasting impacts of unresolved grief and change the downward spiral of intergenerational trauma for hundreds of Indigenous people.”