Alberta's communities gain on-the-ground support to fight gang activity

Alberta communities most impacted by gang activity, particularly those in rural, remote and Aboriginal communities, can now apply for a one-time grant to support programs aimed at reducing gang crime and violence through effective prevention and intervention.


Programs that encourage and support community-based action to reduce gang crime and violence will benefit from a $1-million commitment from Alberta’s Civil Forfeiture Office.
“This is what meaningful crime prevention looks like. It’s about engaging community leaders with proven actions for mobilizing their peers and affecting local change. This has always been at the heart of the Safe Communities Initiative,” said Premier Alison Redford. “These programs are making a lasting difference in our communities and I applaud their efforts.”

Priority will be given to projects that directly impact young people, and their families, at risk of becoming involved in gangs. This includes projects and programs that involve pro-social and life skills-based activities, particularly those that occur in schools and community centres during critical hours after school.

“Gang activity affects all Albertans and localized crime prevention programs are one of the best ways we can reduce the impact on our communities,” said Verlyn Olson, Q.C., Minister of Justice and Attorney General. “The hard work of the police and Civil Forfeiture Office are not only disrupting criminal activity but also making a real and positive impact on vulnerable youth throughout the province.”

This funding commitment is another significant step in the implementation of Alberta's Crime Prevention Framework and, particularly, the Alberta Gang Reduction Strategy, which are both key elements of Alberta’s Safe Communities Initiative.

The announcement was made at the Alberta Gang Reduction Training Symposium in Edmonton. More than 200 community leaders from communities that are experiencing or concerned about gang-related issues were invited to the event to learn from some of North America’s top community practitioners about how to develop effective, local, gang-reduction strategies.

Through the Civil Forfeiture Office, property gained through criminal acts is seized and if the court action is successful, forfeiture is ordered. Proceeds accrued through the sale of forfeited property are now being used to fund victims’ groups and crime prevention programs.

For more information about the Alberta Gang Reduction Strategy please visit http://bit.ly/zvAxsn.