September 25, 2014 – Toronto, ON – Department of Justice Canada
Today, Justice Minister Peter MacKay announced $499,805 in funding to the Agincourt Community Services Association. The funding will help the organization develop and deliver a series of workshops to assist youth in learning new skills and coping mechanisms to increase their resiliency in the face of negative peer influences and decrease their involvement with the criminal justice system.
This funding, under the Youth Justice Initiative, encourages a fair and effective youth justice system, responds to emerging youth justice issues, and enables greater citizen and community participation in the youth justice system, thereby promoting a holistic approach to helping youth.
"Our Government's commitment to keeping Canadians safe, requires us to ensure that youth are given the tools and skills they need to grow and develop resiliency against negative influences, and to channel their energy into becoming active and positive members of their communities. We are pleased to support the Agincourt Community Services Association develop and deliver a program that will empower at risk youth, by teaching them practical strategies to become productive and law-abiding members of society."
Peter MacKay
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
"Young people today face a plethora of challenges and have very complex needs. Some of the potential barriers they face daily may include unemployment, legal issues, and housing need, as well as mental health issues. This funding from the Department of Justice Canada enables the Agincourt Community Services Association to provide learning opportunities through everyday activities like preparing meals together or providing activities where they can learn about healthy, proactive and creative ways to deal with negative emotions. This funding will allow us to bring together service providers from across Scarborough's communities and identify ways to work more effectively with some of our society's most vulnerable to make long term sustainable changes for these youth."
Lee Soda
Executive Director of Agincourt Community Services Association
"The Agincourt Community Services Association truly does great work for our youth here in Toronto. This program will help strengthen bonds in our community and help assist troubled youth, start a new chapter in their lives. I am proud of the support our Government is providing the Centre, and I wish them continued success, to ensuring our youth get the resources they need."
Mike Wallace
Member of Parliament for Burlington
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