The B.C. Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General announced today that more than $8 million in grants is being disbursed to support projects promoting crime prevention, Indigenous healing, restorative justice and solutions to gender-based violence, with four projects in the East Kootenay and Creston included.

“Community organizations play a vital role in keeping our neighbourhoods safe and inclusive for everyone,” said Nina Krieger, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General.

“With the Civil Forfeiture Grant program, we’re supporting organizations working to make a difference in communities through projects helping youth, preventing gender-based violence and supporting Indigenous healing. At the same time, we’re taking away the proceeds fuelling organized crime.”

The Civil Forfeiture Grant program targets crime at its roots and supports public safety by converting forfeited assets that were the instruments or proceeds of unlawful activity into grant funding for community-safety initiatives.

In 2026, 173 grants will be provided to organizations to support projects under the following streams: gender-based violence; child and youth advocacy centres; crime prevention; Indigenous healing; restorative justice.

Local projects being funded

Summit Community Services Society in Cranbrook is receiving $39,999 for their Pilot Project: Men’s Anti-Violence Services.

This project will provide individual and group therapeutic/counselling supports for men who have experienced abuse and/or men who have used abusive behaviours and want to make changes in their lives, and will also provide anti-violence community education and service coordination geared towards men.

Cranbrook And District Restorative Justice Society is getting $40,000 for Restorative Justice RCMP Facilitations.

The project delivers restorative justice circles and mediation agreements for young and first-time offenders who take accountability, providing supported pathways to repair harm, strengthen community safety, and reduce reoffending before charges are laid.

Elk Valley Family Society will get $40,000 for its Chrysalis House Support Program.

This project supports at-risk women and children through weekly in-house workshops on topics included life-skills and employment readiness, and enhanced staff support over one year to prevent gender-based violence.

The Valley Community Services Society in Creston is receiving $40,000 for its ‘Supporting Women from Plural Culture’ project.

This project provides transitional and life skills support to women from Bountiful, including bridging from this culture to mainstream culture, mentoring, outreach and parenting support, support to children and youth and counselling.

Since the Civil Forfeiture Office’s inception, more than $100 million in civil forfeiture recoveries has been given as grants supporting community organizations throughout B.C.

The province announced an open call for 2026 grant applications in November 2025.

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