KAMLOOPS – The Kamloops-Thompson School District is receiving a $15,000 provincial grant from civil forfeiture proceeds to combat bullying in schools.
The local funding, announced recently by Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Terry Lake, is part of nearly $1 million going to 81 projects around the province at this time.
“Bullying has no place in our schools and parents deserve to know their children are safe. We are all aware there is a strong connection between feeling safe and belonging, and student learning,” Lake said.
B.C.’s civil forfeiture office files civil court actions against property alleged to be a tool used to further unlawful activity or a proceed of it.
Roots of Empathy: School District 73 will expand its Roots of Empathy Program. It’s an evidence-based classroom program that has shown significant effect in reducing levels of aggression and bullying among school children. The program reaches elementary school children from Kindergarten to Grade 8.
Additional Roots of Empathy instructors will be trained so the current program can be expanded to more schools in the school district.
In November 2012, the B.C. government announced that up to $1 million would be available from civil forfeiture proceeds for projects geared to building community safety, and invited applications from schools, community groups, and policing agencies.
Active since 2006, B.C.’s civil forfeiture program has put more than $9 million in proceeds back into communities, to crime prevention programs and to victims of fraud and phony investment schemes.
B.C.’s civil forfeiture program is the second-oldest among eight provincial programs that are now active across Canada.