In Brief
MORE THAN 200 ARRESTED FOR RETAIL THEFT
More than 120 people were arrested as part of the Winnipeg Police Service's fall retail theft initiative.
The crackdown, which ran from Sept. 8 to Sept. 27, aimed to reduce theft and improve public safety shopping centres and other business. Officers conducted proactive enforcement in more than 30 businesses.
In total, 123 people were arrested, more than 260 charges were laid, and more than $21,000 in stolen merchandise was recovered, police said.
Fifteen people were repeat offenders and 33 were detained in custody, police said.
Theft was also prevalent outside of the enforcement project, police said. Eighty-one people were arrested (eight of whom were repeat offenders) and faced 168 charges. About $13,800 in stolen merchandise was recovered.
FOUNDATION GETS $1.6M TO HELP KEEP KIDS OUT OF GANGS
A Winnipeg charity that works to combat exploitation is getting a financial boost from the federal government to help prevent youth gang involvement and support at-risk youth.
Federal Public Safety Minister Garry Anandasangaree announced Thursday the Jay Sinh Foundation will receive $1.6 million to support a project to prevent violence, gang involvement and criminal activity among at-risk and incarcerated youth.
The funding will be used to empower Youth Against Crime, aims to help youth aged 12 to 30 in Manitoba and Alberta overcome challenges that can lead to crime and gang involvement.
It will deliver weekly trauma-informed workshops in youth detention centres, group homes, alternative schools and other community settings. The program focuses on building life skills, fostering positive relationships, combating human trafficking, sexual exploitation and forced labour.
WOMEN'S CENTRE GETS $568K GRANT FOR EXPANSION PROJECT
A Winnipeg women's centre is getting a grant from the provincial government to support its capital expansion project.
The Women's Health Clinic received $568,400 Thursday from the North Point Douglas Women's Centre will be given for its proposed development at 197 Ellice Ave. The project includes construction of a 10,500-sq.-ft. facility designed to better meet the needs of women and families in the North Point Douglas area where development will include up to 18 units of supportive housing.
The site is near the organization's current location at 221 Austin St. N.
The initiative responds to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and its 231 Calls for Justice by providing safe, affordable, trauma-informed supports for Indigenous women and girls.
The investment is being made through the government's $56-million fund to support safety, protection and empowerment of Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse people.