Over a dozen Surrey-based non-profits have received provincial funding to support projects that enhance community safety and prevent crime.
The funding is a part of the civil forfeiture grant program, which aims to address "crime at its roots and supports public safety projects by converting forfeited assets that were the instruments or proceeds of unlawful activity," reads a release from Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Garry Begg on Thursday (June 5).
“Community safety is one of our top priorities, and a key part of that is ensuring organizations working in our communities have the resources they need to effect change,” Begg said. “Whether it’s helping youth, preventing gender-based violence or supporting Indigenous healing, these investments are empowering communities to implement community-based initiatives that enhance safety.”
The civil forfeiture office was established in 2006, and since then, $90 million of the recoveries have been distributed as grants.
This year, $7.5 million in grants will support 166 projects throughout the province that fall under the province's definition of priority areas, which include: child and youth advocacy centres; crime prevention; domestic-violence prevention/intervention programming; gender-based violence; Indigenous healing; and restorative justice.
The Surrey projects that received funding are:
- DIVERSEcity Community Resource Society ($37,988 for project: Roots of safety training day);
- BC Lions Football ($75,000 for project: Lions Pride);
- Espoir For All Society, ($40,000 for project: I.A.M. Youths [Innovative. Aspiring. Motivated. Youth]);
- RCMP — Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, which is based in Surrey and works throughout the Lower Mainland ($70,000 for project: IHIT Family Liaison Victim Services Worker);
- Surrey Women's Centre Society ($40,000 for project: SMART Hospital Accompaniment Program);
- The Centre for Child Development of the Lower Mainland ($140,000 for project: Sophie’s Place Child and Youth Advocacy Centre);
- Arts Umbrella Association ($40,000 for Act Your Art Out Surrey);
- Boys and Girls Clubs of South Coast BC ($40,000 for youth nights at BGC's Surrey club);
- Mukti Society ($40,000 for project Mukti empowerment centre);
- Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society (PICS) ($40,000 for project youth fitness and mentorship program);
- W.I.N.G.S Fellowship Ministries which works in New Westminister and Surrey ($40,000 for project MenTOR);
- BC Society for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse works in Surrey and the Fraser Valley ($40,000 for the Surrey victim services pilot extension);
- Leave Out Violence (LOVE) BC Society which works in Surrey, Burnaby and Vancouver ($25,000 for addressing gender based violence in marginalized youth); and
- United for Literacy ($40,000 for empowering shelter residents through literacy).
Surrey Newton MLA Jessie Sunner said in a news release: "It’s great to see funding support for DIVERSEcity’s Roots of Safety training day, which will build greater understanding and capacity among frontline workers and service providers. This kind of education is critical to ensuring survivors receive culturally safe, trauma-informed care, and will help build a Surrey that’s safer and more inclusive for everyone.”
In addition, around $900,000 in grants have been given to law enforcement agencies in B.C. to "support specialized police equipment and training."
Applications for the 2025/26 grants are expected to open in the late fall or early winter, the province says.
