The EFCL has decided to file for membership in REA CH Edmonton, a new organization that is designed to coordinate crime-prevention initiatives in Edmonton. The organization’s first meeting was on June 22 at Santa Maria Goretti hall.
The EFCL board of directors decided that it made sense for the federation to be at the table, given the importance of crime prevention to our organization and that of our members.
It is also our hope that as a member of REACH EDMONTON we would stand a better chance of getting access to provincial funding for crime-prevention programs. The province has set aside $60 million for these programs and has approved approximately $40 million in project funding to date. One example of a recently approved project is the $1.48 million recently awarded to the City of Edmonton to develop after hours programs in schools for at risk youth.
A program that would be of interest to the EFCL would be the hiring of outreach workers to help re-engage community leagues in crime prevention. This was a recommendation brought forward by the EFCL that was included in the recently-completed Mayor’s Task Force Report on Community Safety.
Paul Lepine, executive director Neighborhood Watch, said his group would be at the June 22 meeting as well and may also take out a membership. This would give the EFCL another opportunity to strengthen our long-term relationship with Neighbourhood Watch and open the possibility for some jointly-managed projects, again dependant on the availability of funding |