A federal program to help fight gang and gun violence will provide up to $2.86 million to 91原创 City and the Township of 91原创 鈥� $916,568.04 to the City, and $1,949,774.64 to the Township.

Cloverdale鈥�91原创 City MP John Aldag made the announcement at a Wednesday, Jan. 25 press conference at 91原创 City Hall.

Aldag said the money, from the $250 million Building Safer Communities Fund (BSCF) announced by the federal government in March, 鈥渨ill help support at-risk youth to make healthier choices and better set themselves up for success in life.鈥�

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City mayor Nathan Pachal and Township mayor Eric Woodward, along with councillors from both communities, were on hand for the announcement.

Pachal said the fund 鈥渨ill support young people in 91原创 to find belonging and pathways away from gun and gang violence. BSCF enables 91原创 City to invest in projects to prevent violence through mentoring, counselling, skills development, and recreational programming for young people in our community.鈥�

鈥淚mproving public safety requires more than just more police officers,鈥� Woodward said.

鈥淚t also involves financial support for needed investments in local initiatives like these aimed at preventing gang violence and improving our youth鈥檚 well-being.鈥�

The municipalities will decide how the money is used, Aldag said.

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A statement by federal Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino said the fund 鈥渨ill help support at-risk youth to make healthier choices and better set themselves up for success in life. I look forward to seeing the difference it will make for young people across the City of 91原创 and the Township of 91原创.鈥�

It was the fifth BSCF grant to be announced in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley since Wednesday, Jan. 18, and more were expected, including Surrey, Aldag said.

Burnaby is getting $2.97 million from the BSCF, the District of North Vancouver will receive up to $1.779 million, Richmond will receive up to $2.68 million, and the City of Coquitlam will receive up to $2.24 million.

Communities were selected based on crime severity statistics (homicide by firearm, incidents of firearms offences, organized crime/street gang-involved crime) and population density.