City of Nanaimo supports projects that aim to prevent violence among youth

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed October 4, 2023 1:00 PM

Summary

The City of Nanaimo has allocated $1.8 million from Public Safety Canada through the Building Safer Communities Fund to develop and implement a strategic plan to address gun and gang violence. The Nanaimo Youth Resilience Strategy outlines focus areas to prevent youth from engaging in gun and gang violence and includes the creation of safe youth gathering spaces, youth outreach, connecting youth to the land, Snawaylth (teachings), youth mentoring, enhancing existing programs, and media and communications to address discrimination and stigma against youth.

Working alongside Snuneymuxw First Nation (SFN), the City is committed to taking a holistic approach; one that considers how this work can live on and support generations of young people to come. The Nanaimo Youth Resilience Strategy Steering Committee and the City launched the Nanaimo Youth Resilience Grant application process. After a review conducted by SFN, the City and an evaluation committee, the Building Safer Communities Fund recipients have been officially determined to be:

Big Brother Big Sisters - Mindful Mentoring: Nurturing Resilience in Youth
BGC Central Vancouver Island – Nanaimo South Youth Hub
City of Nanaimo - Parks, Recreation and Culture: Youth Initiatives
Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society – Connections
Nanaimo Food Share – Food for Youth
Nanaimo Hornets Rugby Club – RugbyWorks
School District 68 – Uy’ Sqwalawun (Good Heart & Mind)

The projects will be funded from October 1, 2023 to March 31, 2026.

Link to Strategic Plan: These funds and support for the awarded programs reflect Council's dedication to creating a safer community.

Key Points

The City of Nanaimo was allocated $1.8 million from Public Safety Canada through the Building Safer Communities Fund to develop and implement a strategic plan to address gun and gang violence and promote youth resiliency. The program funding runs until March 2026.
At the Regular Council meeting on May 1, 2023, Council endorsed the Nanaimo Youth Resilience Strategy, which outlines six focus areas to prevent youth from engaging in gun and gang violence.
$1,611,149 will be allocated over the next 3-years to local organizations with projects targeting youth at risk.

Quotes

"Improving public safety needs multiple approaches, including prevention. By supporting children and youth, we can strengthen their resilience and reduce the likelihood that vulnerable young people will be drawn into guns and gang violence. We are very thankful to those agencies who submitted a grant application and for the federal funding that will make these projects possible."

Paul Manly

Acting Mayor

City of Nanaimo

-30-

Contact:

For media enquiries, please contact

Communications

City of Nanaimo

250-754-4251

media.requests@nanaimo.ca

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