Manitoba Government Provides $750,000 to Support Victims of Crime

Press Release

DAUPHIN—The Manitoba government is providing $750,000 from the Criminal Property Forfeiture (CPF) Fund to support victims and surviving family members of serious crimes, including homicide, sexual assault and intimate partner violence, Justice Minister Matt Wiebe announced here today.

“November is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and our government is strengthening its support for victims of intimate partner violence and other serious crimes throughout the province,” said Wiebe. “Our public safety strategy commits to supporting Manitobans victimized by crime and we are able to help victims and their families rebuild their lives by redirecting the proceeds of criminal activity in Manitoba to valuable community programs.”

The CPF Fund distributes proceeds from the sale of seized criminal property to organizations in the province that focus on community safety. The CPF Fund also includes a funding stream for the Manitoba Justice Victim Services branch, which offers support to all individuals under the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights. Last year, the province increased the fund to $750,000 from $500,000 in previous years.

This year, the amounts the CPF Fund is providing to organizations that support victims of crime including:

• $200,000 to Candace House in Winnipeg, which provides wrap-around supports and a comfortable day refuge for victims and families who have lost a loved one to violent crime and may be navigating the court system.
• Up to $110,000 for Manitoba Justice Victim Services client supports such as the Victim Travel Fund, protection order translation, elder services, an intervention dog, electronic monitoring for domestic violence and stalking victims, as well as the Cellphone Emergency Limited Link-up (CELL) program to lend free cell phones to victims at extreme risk.
• $90,000 to Heartwood Healing Centre in Winnipeg, which provides individual and group therapy to Manitobans aged 16 and older who have experienced childhood sexual abuse.
• $35,000 to Brandon Police Service, which has a victim services unit to provide support, information and referral services to help victims of crime.
• $50,000 to Ka Ni Kanichihk’s Wiping Away the Tears healing event in Winnipeg for families of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit individuals.
• $45,000 to Mount Carmel Clinic’s Sage House – Sisters Offering Support Program in Winnipeg, a drop-in centre and outreach program for women-identifying individuals involved in sex work.
• $35,000 to the Parkland Crisis Centre and Women’s Shelter in Dauphin, which provides support services to women and children escaping intimate partner abuse, a 24-hour crisis line, emergency shelter, counselling, child and youth programs, support groups, referrals and advocacy.
• $35,000 to the Western Manitoba Women’s Centre (WMWC) in Brandon, which serves women, gender-diverse individuals and their children across western Manitoba with trauma-informed counselling, advocacy and inclusive programming.
• $30,000 for the Child and Youth Care Certificate Program at Ndinawemaaganag Endaawaad Inc. (Ndinawe), a one-year training program accredited by Red River College Polytechnic.
• $30,000 to Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation Family and Community Wellness Centre, which provides a bereavement support group for families of homicide victims in the Thompson area.
• $30,000 to the Survivor’s Hope Crisis Centre’s Sexual Assault Recovery and Healing (SARAH) program, which provides support, long-term counselling services and legal advocacy to victims of sexual violence and intimate partner violence through the Interlake and eastern region.
• $25,000 to the Manitoba Organization for Victim Assistance (MOVA) to support 25th anniversary activities.
• $20,000 to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada for education and awareness about the serious consequences of impaired driving.

“The Parkland Crisis Centre and Women’s Shelter is excited to announce the newly formed partnership with Victim Services to improve service accessibility within our community,” said Kari Prawdzik, executive director, Parkland Crisis Centre. “The shelter is passionate about empowering individuals to break free from the cycles of violence and building healthier futures. Our organization’s goals are to assist in providing life-changing support to those affected by family, intimate partner and gender-based violence.”

The Parkland Crisis Centre and Women’s Shelter and WMWC are receiving CPF victim services grants for the first time, the minister noted.

To learn more about victim services in Manitoba, visit: www.gov.mb.ca/justice/vs. More information about criminal property forfeiture is available at www.gov.mb.ca/justice/commsafe/cpf.

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For more information:

• Public information, contact Manitoba Government Inquiry: mgi@gov.mb.ca or 1-866-626-4862 or 204-945-3744.
• Media requests for general information, contact Communications and Engagement: newsroom@gov.mb.ca.
• Media requests for ministerial comment, contact Cabinet Communications: cabcom@manitoba.ca.

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