Release. Four local organizations have received funding from the province’s civil forfeiture program announced Abbotsford South MLA Darryl Plecas.
- Abbotsford Community Services Society $48,806
- Abbotsford Police Department $10,000
- Abbotsford Restorative Justice and Advocacy Association $7,600
- Salvation Army of Centre Hope $7,150
“Abbotsford Restorative Justice is thrilled to have been awarded funding for Project Victim Care,” said executive director Joanne Field. “This project will be undertaken in partnership with Abbotsford Police Victims Services and will focus on enhancing support services for victims and furthering collaboration for the delivery of Restorative Justice processes for victims of crime.”
“I am excited about the grant and how further collaboration between the Abbotsford Restorative Justice Association and Abbotsford Police Victim Services will work to strengthen the supports for those impacted by a crime,” said program coordinator Renee Angelvette.
The Abbotsford Community Services Society is actually receiving two grants. One for the Self-Discovery Support Group ($28,806) which provides help to Punjabi speaking women who are deemed at high risk for domestic violence. The second grant goes to a project entitled Building Healthy Relationships for At-Risk South Asian Pre-teens ($20,000) that will help girls and boys in grades five and six who have experienced violence in the neighbourhood.
“I wholeheartedly support the fundamental premise of what we do with the monies government obtains through our civil forfeiture initiative,” said Plecas. “It only makes sense to turn over the proceeds of crime back to the community to assist with crime prevention.”
This year, the priority focus for civil forfeiture grants is on initiatives that address violence against women, and support the Violence Free BC strategy. Other areas where funding was made available included serving victims through restorative justice, community and youth crime prevention, and police education, training and specialized crime prevention equipment.
Since the civil forfeiture program became active, it has returned more than $16 million from successful forfeiture actions to crime prevention grants and victim compensation payments in B.C.
Violence Free BC is the provincial government’s long-term strategy and commitment to end violence against women. Acting as a roadmap, Violence Free BC combines immediate actions with a long-term vision to end the violence, and to support women whose lives and well-being have been impacted by violence. In future years, a portion of civil forfeiture funds will be dedicated to support the Violence Free BC strategy.
Photo:
Left to right: Darryl Plecas, Geri Charles, Rene Angelvette and Joanne Field of the Abbotsford Restorative Justice and Advocacy Association. The grant will help formalize a relationship with Abbotsford Police Department’s Victim Services Department.
Left to right: Darryl Plecas, Geri Charles, Rene Angelvette and Joanne Field of the Abbotsford Restorative Justice and Advocacy Association. The grant will help formalize a relationship with Abbotsford Police Department’s Victim Services Department.