The City of Nanaimo hopes that community programming will appeal to at-risk youths and lead them toward better choices than gangs and violence.
The city announced seven programs designed to help deter youths from entering into lives of gun and gang violence as the recipients of $1.8 million from the Nanaimo youth resilience strategy.
Work toward the strategy started in early 2022, when Public Safety Canada announced Nanaimo was among 22 municipalities in B.C. selected to develop a three-year gun and gang violence prevention strategy – Nanaimo’s was endorsed by city council in May – with $1.8 million to develop the strategy and fund youth violence diversion projects.
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The youth resilience strategy focus areas include safe youth gathering spaces, outreach, connections to the land, First Nations teachings, mentoring, enhancement of existing programs, and media and communications to address discrimination and stigma.
According to a city press release, Snuneymuxw First Nation and the city have committed to partnering on an holistic approach that considers how the work done via the strategy can support future generations of young people.
Following a grant application, review and evaluation process, the funding will support programming offered by Big Brother Big Sisters, BGC Central Vancouver Island, City of Nanaimo parks and rec, Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society, Nanaimo Foodshare, Nanaimo Hornets Rugby Club and Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools.
The projects will be funded until March of 2026.
“Improving public safety needs multiple approaches, including prevention,” said Paul Manly, acting mayor, in a press release. “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.”
chris.bush@nanaimobulletin.com
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