NDP MLAs Blatherwick, Farnworth and Wickens say funding will support crime prevention projects in the Tri-Cities
COQUITLAM– New Democrat MLAs Jennifer Blatherwick, Mike Farnworth and Jodie Wickens say that people in the Tri-Cities will benefit from projects that will advance public safety, help prevent violence, and promote healing.
“I can’t think of a better way to use captured proceeds from crime than to support important initiatives like the fourth Provincial Restorative Justice Symposium here in Coquitlam and food security programs in SD43 ,” said Jennifer Blatherwick, MLA for Coquitlam-Mallairdville. “The Restorative Justice Association of BC does incredible work all across the province and as a former school trustee, I know what projects like Pathways to Indigenous Food Sovereignty can do in our schools. I’m looking forward to seeing the outcomes that this funding will support.”
“I know from my time as the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General how impactful it is to put funds from crime back into local organizations and programs,” said Mike Farnworth, MLA for Port Coquitlam. “I’m glad that our government is diligent about pursuing the forfeiture of assets from unlawful activity to boost important public safety and crime prevention organizations across B.C.”
Five projects in the Tri-Cities are receiving over $200,000 to implement crime prevention and remediation projects in their community. Local projects include:
- Restorative Justice Association of British Columbia, RJABC 4th Provincial Restorative Symposium- $80,000
- This project will deliver the “4th Provincial Restorative Justice Symposium”, which will offer a variety of engagement and learning opportunities for restorative justice programs and practitioners to build capacity for victim-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally-responsive practices and continue the progress of the previous Provincial RJ Symposiums in enhancing the delivery of restorative services to victims, offenders, and community stakeholders across British Columbia by providing opportunities for critical discussions and training.
- SD 43, Pathways to Indigenous Food Sovereignty Learning and Co– $40,000
- This project will empower Indigenous youth in the Tricity region to grow and care for food and medicine plants, reconnecting them with traditional ways of learning, growing, and eating.
- Tri-City Transitions Society, Building Capacity: Inclusive, Trauma Informed GBV Services- $40,000
- This project will update policies with a diversity lens, expanding multilingual resources, and fostering strategic partnerships, improving safety and services for 500+ survivors annually.
- Low Entropy Foundation, Thrift & Thrive Program- $40,000
- This initiative targets approximately 30 youth aged 16-24 who are at-risk, 2SLGBTQQIA+, or BIPOC and equip them with practical job skills, soft skills, and financial literacy through hands-on experience at a thrift store.
- RCMP, Kwikwetlem First Nation Bike Rodeo- $2,600
- This project will deliver a one-day bike rodeo event for the approximately ten children of the Kwikwetlem First Nation in which participants will engage in a series of cycling drills with the goal of enhancing both safety skills and the community’s relationship with police
“It’s amazing that we can turn around funds from criminal activity and put it back into such incredible community initiatives,” said Jodie Wickens, MLA for Coquitlam-Burke Mountain. “Youth in our community are going to benefit from projects across the Tri-Cities and the Province, helping them learn new skills and thrive.”
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.