Home Newsroom 2006 News releases 2006-08-08: Minister Day announces funding for crime prevention projects in the Northwest Territories

Minister Day announces funding for crime prevention projects in the Northwest Territories

Yellowknife, August 8, 2006 -- The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety today announced $226,000 in funding to support crime prevention initiatives in the Northwest Territories through the National Crime Prevention Centre (NCPC).

With this funding, the Yellowknife Public Denominational District Education Authority, the Foster Family Coalition of NWT and the Sir Alexander Mackenzie School in Inuvik will be able to help prevent crime and to help young people build safer communities.

“Canada’s new government is taking concrete action to prevent crime from taking place in the streets and communities of the Northwest Territories,” said Minister Day. “These projects will help prevent our youth from committing crimes, joining gangs and using illicit drugs by offering them community-based supportive programs,” he added.

"It's especially important that we support young people to make better choices," said the Hon. Brendan Bell, Northwest Territories Minister of Justice. "We all share the responsibility to make our communities safer, and that starts with respect for the land and community."

The Yellowknife Denominational District Education Authority is today receiving $56,000 to increase the awareness of at-risk youth through its school-based program, entitled “Creating Resiliency in School Age Youth.” This project aims to decrease the chances of youth-at-risk dropping out of school, getting involved in crime and using illegal drugs.

Camp Connections , developed through the Foster Family Coalition of NWT, is today receiving $70,000 to provide a summer culture camp for children and youth in foster homes. This summer camp provides positive experiences to help them build a strong identity based on their cultural values, which in turn will help break the cycle of family abuse.

The Sir Alexander Mackenzie School (SAMS) is receiving $100,000 for its “SAMS Cultural Experience program”. This program will help youth-at-risk focus on positive decision-making, self-esteem and respect for the land and community.

The NCPC is a Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada program that helps communities develop local solutions to local problems. NCPC works to increase community involvement in crime prevention, develop and share knowledge of effective prevention strategies, and coordinate multi-level support for crime prevention.

For further information:

Media Relations
Public Safety and Emergency
Preparedness Canada
613-991-0657

Mélisa Leclerc
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Stockwell Day
Minister of Public Safety
613-991-2863

Kimberly Chemerika
Manager, Northern Region
National Crime Prevention Centre
867-766-8442

Julia Mott
Communications Coordinator
Department of Executive
Government of the Northwest Territories
867-669-2304