Personal Safety Alarm $7,591
This program aims to distribute over 7,000 personal safety alarms to residents in the Strathcona neighbourhood and via the Chinese Community Policing Centre to support those feeling threatened in their neighbourhood. The alarm emits a loud, piercing noise and is intended to deter criminals intent on committing crimes against people.
Safety Resource Kits $11,800
With no time to gather basic supplies, domestic violence victims often have limited financial resources to assist themselves and their children or will feel pressured to return to their abuser. The Safety Resource Kits, prepared by detectives from the VPD’s Domestic Violence and Criminal Harassment Unit are tailored to the individual and can contain grocery or drugstore cards, emergency whistles, hand sanitizer, a 911 cell phone or phone minutes, protective cloth masks, emergency snacks and more. These Safety Resource Kits contain products like clothing, food, water, hygiene products, bus passes, cell phone pre-paid cards to empower victims to get away and start again.
Project Landmark $24,098
An innovative project to hand out street address numbers to homes and businesses in Strathcona and Hastings neighbourhoods. The numbers come with a pamphlet (translated into multiple languages) explaining the purpose of the project, which is to affix the street address in the back lane to make it easier for first responders to find the address they are looking for. Vancouver has no bylaw mandating rear address signage, which can delay first responder response times by several minutes – too long in the case of life-threatening emergencies.
Women’s Personal Safety Team $13,090
The VPD Women’s Personal Safety Team is a truly unique program supporting women’s safety in our community. The program enhances women’s security, self-protection and confidence by providing the tools to prevent and defend from asocial violence, including education, training and resources. The Team teaches women of all ages, demographics and abilities and recently pivoted the program to offer virtual sessions due to the pandemic. Since inception in 2012, the Women’s Personal Safety Team has impacted more than 6,400 females, including 2,000 teens and 4,400 women.
Lunch with The Chief $5,000
The popular Lunch with the Chief series connects residents of the Downtown Eastside with VPD frontline and executive officers, including the Chief Constable. Lunches take place at the Carnegie Community Centre approximately four times a year and have been hugely successful in improving relationships between law enforcement and community members. By providing an informal platform for engagement, participants are able to share in food and conversation, as a way to break down established barriers of communication and have meaningful, positive interactions in a neutral environment.
Her Time $15,000
Gang Education and Prevention programs have primarily been conducted with a male-focus, yet young women are also victims of gang violence and the tragedies that come with involvement in gang life. Her Time was created to provide young women with a voice and to allow women to actively participate in taking control of their lives. Her Time has reached over 40 schools and over 5,000 students, educators and community partners. Proactively, the program provides young women with the tools, resources and knowledge about the dangers of gang lifestyle. Reactively, the program offers women currently involved or at high-risk to becoming involved in gang life the opportunity to connect with the detectives who will provide assistance with an exit strategy.
Out On Patrol $14,000
A peer support group for LGBTQ members of law enforcement that provides a safe space for connecting and sharing. The group will undertake community-based education and awareness programming. The Foundation provided start up funding to get them set up as a society.
