We all deserve to feel safe and be safe, no matter where we live, work, learn or play. Recognizing community concerns regarding gun and gang violence, The City and Public Safety Canada are working together to build safer and more resilient communities through the Building Safer Communities Fund. Through investments provided by Public Safety Canada, up to $7 million in funding is available to support local organizations and programs that help to address the local priorities, gaps and opportunities identified by Calgary’s Community-Based Public Safety Task Force. The fund will allow eligible organizations to develop and enhance community-based youth programming to support individuals who are involved in or at risk of joining gangs.

The Building Safer Communities Fund is made possible by the Government of Canada and is part of their Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence.

Calgary’s Building Safer Communities Fund continues the work started by the Community-Based Public Safety Task Force. Formed in 2020, the Task Force was created to identify and address community concerns around escalating violent crime in Calgary, with a focus on gang and gun violence. Through extensive community engagement and considerable research, the Task Force was able to identify gaps, challenges, and issues with existing programs and make recommendations for improvement.

As a result, the focus of the Building Safer Communities Fund will be to support prevention and intervention strategies that address one or more of the following gaps and opportunities identified in the Task Force report:

• Improve access to gang-exiting and early intervention programs
• Increase availability to culturally appropriate programming options
• Enhance formal support for parents and families of youth engaged in gang activity
• Strengthen access to mentorship, guidance, outreach, and support for gang-involved individuals