Five projects in Nanaimo-North Cowichan will share $147,652 in funding to implement crime prevention and remediation in their communities.
The provincial 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.
“We are fortunate to have organizations like these working on the front lines in our community,” said Doug Routley, MLA for Nanaimo-North Cowichan. “Taking monies collected through crime, and directing it to organizations that are actively working to build healthier, safer communities we all want, just makes sense.”
Those recieving money are the Boys and Girls Club of Central Vancouver Island, Youth Early Prevention Program, which will get $40,000; Community Circles Restorative Justice Society, Building Partnerships to Strengthen the Community, which will get $27,410; the Municipality of North Cowichan’s Crofton Youth Room, which will get $9,767; Nanaimo-Ladysmith Public Schools, Wellington Secondary Healing Carving Program, which will get $40,000; and Vancouver Island Region Justice Association, Capacity for Change Program, which will get $30,475.
“We all want young people in Nanaimo to feel supported so they can have their best start, and break free of harmful cycles,” said Sheila Malcolmson, MLA for Nanaimo. “We’re funding programs for groups like Boys and Girls Club and our Nanaimo School District to help our young people gain skills, knowledge, and confidence.”
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.
