Government of Canada announces funding for Okanagan Indian Band crime prevention project

March 14, 2019

Okanagan Indian Band, Vernon, British Columbia

The Government of Canada is committed to advancing evidence-based crime prevention programs that meet the unique needs of at-risk young people across the country.

Today, in Vernon, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, the Honourable Ralph Goodale, alongside Chief Byron Louis and other representatives of the Okanagan Indian Band announced that up to $1.17 million will be made available by the Government of Canada to support a five-year Comprehensive Safety Strategy in their community. This strategy, focused on youth violence prevention, includes a community mobilization framework and direct interventions for youth and their families that use a client-centred, strength-based approach.

Minister Goodale also highlighted that the Government of Canada is making available up to $94 million over five years to develop inclusive, diverse and culturally adapted crime prevention projects across Canada.

The projects will use new and innovative approaches to crime prevention that seek to expand partnerships, engage more indigenous communities, and include more experts in addressing the gaps and challenges in reaching vulnerable communities.

New partners are being engaged with a focus on Indigenous communities, rural populations, and Black youth.  The projects include both direct interventions to help those at-risk, and initiatives to build community capacity for crime prevention.

Quotes

“We know that when it comes to crime prevention, there is no one size fits all solution. The Okanagan Indian Band’s approach is youth-centred, with a community capacity-building component that will help reduce and prevent youth violence – making our communities safer and ensuring more young people have the opportunity to succeed.”

– The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

“The Okanagan Indian Band recognizes and acknowledges that the emphasis on Crime Prevention and awareness is proactive, rather than reactive.  The goal of a proactive approach to Crime Prevention is to move from being driven by crime to moving towards preemptive efforts to target problems.  This change in focus will necessitate the identification and implementation via community driven, strength based approaches. The Okanagan Indian Band is proud to work with the Federal Government on developing culturally appropriate interventions. With today’s announcement, we are moving towards reconciliation that will hopefully lead to a growing partnership with all levels of government on eliminating the social factors that lead to crime here in our community.”

– Chief Byron Louis, Okanagan Indian Band

Quick facts

• The 2018 NCPS Call for Applications aimed to prevent or reduce the impacts of the following crime issues in at-risk communities: youth gangs, youth violence, youth bullying, and youth cyberbullying.
• Efforts have been made to reduce the administrative burden on organizations applying for crime prevention funding. Through the 2018 Call for Applications, applicants were able to access three unique funding programs, the Crime Prevention Action Fund, the Youth Gang Prevention Fund, and the Northern and Aboriginal Crime Prevention Fund through a single application process.
• The 50 proposals selected for further development will help to advance the evidence base and to ensure that lessons learned about what works in targeted communities are shared with the crime prevention community.

Associated links

• National Crime Prevention Strategy

Contacts

Scott Bardsley
Manager of Media and Communications
Office of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
613-998-5681
scott.bardsley@canada.ca

Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657
ps.mediarelations-relationsaveclesmedias.sp@canada.ca

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