Backgrounder

Canada's New Government is serious about keeping our communities safe, which is why we are focusing crime prevention initiatives on those who are most at risk. Through the National Crime Prevention Centre, we are providing more than $2.4 million to support crime prevention projects in Manitoba.

Below are the selected projects that will work to prevent and reduce crime in local communities across Manitoba:

1. Manitoba Justice, Corrections Division, Empowering Justice: An Ecological Approach to Crime Prevention and Social Development, ($1.5 million). This three-year pilot project funded through the National Crime Prevention Centre will take a holistic approach to the problem of auto theft, providing community-based supports and services for youth involved or at risk of becoming involved in the crime. The strategy is expected to reach approximately 200 at-risk youth and provide coordinated, supervised and managed interventions that meet individual, family, community, social and cultural needs.
2. Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council, Youth Reaching Out to Youth, ($158,093). This project will develop a youth mentoring program for refugee youth in the city. The project will assist newcomer families in dealing with the integration into a new community through a variety of support mechanisms.
3. Ginew Wellness Centre, Roseau River Youth Crime Prevention Project, ($149,644). The Roseau River Youth Crime Prevention Project addresses risk factors associated with youth crime. Various community organizations will provide training to a youth coordinator and assistant on the issues of substance abuse, family violence, and physical and sexual abuse.
4. Crossing Communities Art Project, Youth Violence Prevention Project, ($142,437). Based on the United Kingdom's Young Offenders on Reparation Orders model, and the Unit for the Arts and Offenders. This project targets youth demonstrating at risk behaviours. These include problematic drug and alcohol use, school truancy, conflicts with the law, or gang involvement. The project will focus on youth from the inner city of Winnipeg, and rural and northern Manitoba including First Nations communities.
5. Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc., Planting Seeds: Developing Anti-Racism Youth Trainers and Leadership, ($125,000). This project will reduce youth criminal behaviour by promoting cross cultural awareness and strengthening relationships between Aboriginal youth, non-Aboriginals, community members, and the Winnipeg Police Service. It will offer Aboriginal youth the opportunity for comprehensive anti-racism training through educational, cultural, and activities. It also offers the opportunity to improve the social and economic wellbeing of Aboriginal youth in Winnipeg, and build relations with stakeholder groups emphasizing newcomer communities.
6. Building Healthy Shamattawa, Building Healthy Shamattawa: Building Youth Resilience with Recreation and Parent and Peer Support, ($130,600). This project will encourage youth to change risky lifestyle choices by enhancing support and role modeling among peer leaders and parents. The project will develop youth leaders as mentors and activity planners, and strengthen the ability of parents to positively influence children.
7. Four Arrows Regional Health Authority Inc., Island Lake Youth Initiative – Phase 2: "Youth and the Arts", ($199,500). Four Arrows RHA will employ four Youth Workers, one in each Island Lake community, to implement programs to provide peer leadership training, especially among young women and girls. The project will also create groups devoted to developing more advanced and positive skills.
8. Rolling River Community Healing Project, Crime-Victimization Prevention Project, ($46,702). This project will decrease crime and victimization among at-risk youth between the ages 12 to 17 in Rolling River First Nation through the introduction of a mentorship program. Mentors will facilitate access to community support services and youth will be given access training programs that promote healthy choices.

Total: $2,451,976