Close X
Sunday, December 1, 2024
ADVT 
National

Alberta sexual assault centres to be consulted on spending additional $10 million

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 30 Apr, 2024 04:01 PM
  • Alberta sexual assault centres to be consulted on spending additional $10 million

An additional $3 million is being allocated in 2024-25 to support 15 sexual assault centres.

There will be another $3 million in 2025-26 and $4 million in 2026-27.

"Nearly half of Albertans have experienced some form of sexual violence in their lifetime. That's 1.8 million too many," Family Services Minister Searle Turton told a news conference Tuesday.

"I've heard how it impacts every aspect of their well-being and their relationships, not to mention their ability to trust and feel safe."

Alberta signed a deal last fall to receive $54 million in federal funding to create and implement a 10-year strategy to end gender-based violence. 

The funding, which will be allocated to the province over four years, is part of a national plan to tackle gender-based violence. 

Turton said how the money will be spent will be determined by the sexual assault centres in roundtable discussions in the coming weeks.

"This will allow government to hear directly from centres and those who work with survivors every day how this funding can best address their urgent needs," he said.

Tanya Fir, Alberta's minister for the status of women, said the facilities represent "hope and safe havens" where survivors can receive support. 

The news was welcomed by the Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services.

Corinne Ofstie, co-chief executive officer, said it will help members respond to the increasingly complex needs of individuals and communities affected by sexual violence.

"It is difficult for survivors to reach out for help in the aftermath of sexual violence," she said.

"It is critical they receive help in a timely way as close to home as possible."

MORE National ARTICLES

Suspect in Surrey shooting arrested

Suspect in Surrey shooting arrested
R-C-M-P say a suspect in a fatal shooting in Surrey in 2022 has been arrested in Ontario. Police say a 20-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man were injured in the February 2022 shooting, and the man -- Juvraj Jabal of Surrey -- later died in hospital   

Suspect in Surrey shooting arrested

B.C. power line cut access to Highway 99 to and from U.S. border for hours

B.C. power line cut access to Highway 99 to and from U.S. border for hours
A power line that fell over Highway 99 in Surrey, B.C., cut off a key route to and from the U.S. Peace Arch Border Crossing for nearly three hours on Thursday. BC Hydro, the Crown power utility, says a vehicle crashed into a power pole, bringing the line down across both directions of the highway.   

B.C. power line cut access to Highway 99 to and from U.S. border for hours

Community in Crisis A Surge in Local Crime and Safety Concerns

Community in Crisis A Surge in Local Crime and Safety Concerns
In the heart of Surrey's bustling business district, a sense of unease has settled following a series of alarming incidents that have gripped the community. The seemingly business-as-usual surroundings of the Payal Business Centre, home to a myriad of South Asian businesses, have been marred by a recent surge in criminal activities, raising concerns among residents and entrepreneurs alike.

Community in Crisis A Surge in Local Crime and Safety Concerns

Darpan 10 With Honourable Mike Farnworth, Minister Of Public Safety And Solicitor General

Darpan 10 With Honourable Mike Farnworth, Minister Of Public Safety And Solicitor General
Public Safety has been an ongoing topic in the news with the recent spate of gun violence South of the Fraser. In Darpan 10, Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General for BC, The Honourable Mike Farnworth sheds light on crime, Surrey RCMP vs SPS saga, and the future of policing in Surrey. 

Darpan 10 With Honourable Mike Farnworth, Minister Of Public Safety And Solicitor General

Hunger on the Rise Canadian Food Banks in High Demand

Hunger on the Rise Canadian Food Banks in High Demand
Earlier this year, there were an unprecedented 1.9 million visits to food banks in Canada. This is a 32% increase from 2022 and a 78% increase since before the pandemic. Unsurprisingly, food banks are approaching 2024 with growing concerns as the sustained increase in demand places additional strain on their resources and capacities.

Hunger on the Rise Canadian Food Banks in High Demand

BC snowmobiler dead

BC snowmobiler dead
Police in eastern British Columbia are warning backcountry users to be ready for emergencies after a snowmobiler was killed and two skiers had to be rescued this week in separate incidents. RCMP in the Golden-Field detachment say the death happened on Jan. 21 when a snowmobile driven by a 24-year-old man left the trail down a steep embankment and hit some trees.

BC snowmobiler dead