ABBOTSFORD, B.C.—The British Columbia government has announced where it is directing federal government funds in the fight against gun and gang violence in the province.

The first of $5.3 million in funding over two years will go toward six prevention and intervention programs based in Abbotsford, the Cariboo-Chilcotin and the Capital Regional District.

More than $1.2 million will go into youth involved and gang intervention programs in Abbotsford, while two Cariboo-Chilcotin youth programs will receive over $380,000.

The B.C. School Superintendents Association’s support for its high-risk vulnerable youth program will receive $580,000 and the Pacific Centre Family Services Association’s exploitation diversion program gets $450,000.

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says the programs helps to strike at the root of the problem in neighbourhoods to ensure youth are resilient to the lure of gangs.

The funding comes from the B.C. government’s $30 million allotment of a $214-million fund made available to the provinces and territories through the federal government’s Guns and Gang Violence Action Fund.

Read more about: