VICTORIA, B.C. — The City of Victoria has been awarded $750,000 from Public Safety Canada’s Crime Prevention Action Fund (CPAF) to support its new Spark Program for Enhanced Youth Safety and Wellbeing. The City-led, multi-partner initiative is designed to prevent crime and violence and support increased safety and wellbeing among children and youth under 30 years of age in Victoria.
“Local organizations are experiencing unprecedented demand for their programs and services to support at-risk children, youth and families,” said Mayor Marianne Alto. “This funding helps activate the prevention and intervention aspects of the City’s Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan and will help our partners strengthen belonging in our community.”
Through the Spark program, the City is collaborating with 16 local organizations to deliver 19 projects over the next three months. Of the 19 projects, three are City-led.
The funding supports established initiatives such as youth case management, counselling and mentorship, and enhances organizational capacity, training and outreach. Spark projects also help to develop youth skills, provide employment supports and increase youth access to arts, culture and recreation activities.
“Through the Crime Prevention Action Fund, our government is investing in programs like Spark that build resilience, reduce risk, and create pathways to brighter futures, allowing every young person to feel safe, supported, and connected to their community,” said the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety. “This project reflects the commitment of the City of Victoria and its community partners to delivering supports that will make a real difference in the lives of local children and youth.”
“I know that community safety starts long before a crisis, by making sure young people feel supported, connected, and seen. This $750,000 investment through Public Safety Canada’s Crime Prevention Action Fund will help the City of Victoria and 16 critical community partners deliver practical, trauma-informed supports from counselling and mentorship to skills-building and safe spaces. These will help strengthen belonging while reducing risk factors that give youth under 30 real opportunities to thrive," said Will Greaves, Member of Parliament for Victoria.
The program helps increase community safety and wellbeing by focusing on upstream, prevention-based efforts that target at-risk children, youth and young adults, to foster belonging and resilience, reduce social isolation and mitigate known risk factors associated with antisocial and violent behaviours. Emphasizing wellness through increased connectedness and positive relationships is key.
The Spark Program for Enhanced Youth Safety and Wellbeing delivers on objectives of the City’s Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan and aligns with CPAF’s objective to support evidence-based models and promising practices, which address known risks and increase protective factors among vulnerable children and youth.
For information on the Spark program, community partners and projects, visit victoria.ca/cswb.
Media Contact:
Colleen Mycroft
Manager, Intergovernmental and Media Relations
250.896.5325 | cmycroft@victoria.ca
Backgrounder – Spark Program for Enhanced Youth Safety and Wellbeing