B.C. YOUTH PROGRAMS GET FUNDING BOOST FROM DAY

Ottawa Finances Programs To Fight Drugs And Violence

Provincial programs aimed at preventing crime will get a $2.7-million
federal government boost, Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day
announced at a Vancouver news conference Friday.

Day said funding will go to nine groups across B.C. that are working
to help "steer young people from a life of crime."

"I believe there's going to be an impact on the individuals that are
touched by these particular groups," said Day, speaking to media,
police and crime prevention workers gathered at the RCMP's "E"
division headquarters.

The nine organizations -- including the Vancouver Native Health
Society, the Surrey School District and the BC Crime Prevention
Association -- run programs that tackle everything from online safety
for Grade Seven girls to guns and gang violence.

Day said the groups were selected by the National Crime Prevention
Centre because their programs are effective. The funding focuses on
supporting vulnerable families and children at risk, preventing youth
and drug-related crimes and on fostering prevention in aboriginal communities.

Investing in prevention will save money in the long run, Day said.

"For every dollar that's invested in prevention, you're saving about
$7 somewhere down the line in terms of cost of incarceration, the
costs on society and the costs on the victim," Day said, adding this
is just the physical cost.

"What value is there on a life that is kept from getting into the
revolving door of crime?"

The money will curb violence through communication with a new pilot
program, Straight Talk, said Theresa Campbell, a manager for Surrey's
Safe School program.

"We're really excited," she said, adding she learned about the
$82,600 in funding for Straight Talk two weeks ago. The student-led
pilot program will involve 25 students in nine schools, she said, and
commence this fall.

"It's expected to enhance communication between parents, children and
the community around issues related to guns, gangs and violence,"
Campbell said.

Valerie MacLean, director for the the BC Crime Prevention
Association, said the $187,054 the group received in funding for its
prevention and community resource network will help it spread
awareness. "It means everything to us to have the federal government
support our programs," said MacLean.

RCMP spokesman Cpl. Pierre Lemaitre said funding prevention
initiatives are good news from a policing point of view.

"This is certainly very encouraging news to all law enforcement,"
Lemaitre said. "This fits right into our master plan for crime reduction."

BREAKING IT DOWN HOW THE $2,749,600 IS BEING SPENT

- - $43,530: Vancouver Native Health Society -- Aboriginal Youth
Workshop on the Realities of Urban Living.

- - $82,600: Surrey School District -- Straight Talk, a pilot project
aimed at crime and violence among at-risk youth.

- - $175,906: Vancouver Coastal Health Authority -- School-aged
Children and Youth Substance Abuse Project.

- - $187,054: British Columbia Crime Prevention Association -- BC Crime
Prevention and Community Safety Resource Network's second phase.

- - $235,000: YWCA of Vancouver -- Welcome to My Life, aimed at issues
like conflict resolution and online safety.

- - $307,551: Prince George Urban Aboriginal Justice Society -- OPTIONS
Restorative Justice for Schools.

- - $569,160: Cowichan Women Against Violence, Society, Safer Futures
Program -- Safer Communities Making Links.

- - $574,091: Port Alberni's Women's Resources Society -- Getting to
the Root of It: Crime and Victimization.

- - $574,708: Selkirk College -- Boundary Comprehensive Community
Safety Initiative.