Maple Ridge, B.C., July 28, 2026 – The City of Maple Ridge and Maple Ridge RCMP are pleased to receive $1.1 million in funding from the Building Safer Communities Fund (BSCF) to extend the RISE initiative, a City-led, community-powered initiative focused on reducing youth vulnerability, strengthening resilience and preventing youth violence.
Maple Ridge is one of several communities receiving BSCF funding, announced July 27 by the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety Canada to support locally designed prevention and intervention initiatives that address the root causes of gun and gang violence.
Launched in April 2023, RISE brings together the City, Maple Ridge RCMP, schools, health care providers and local service agencies to support young people through early intervention, prevention programs, community engagement and education.
The renewed three-year funding will allow the City and its partners to continue building positive social environments through community, family and service organizations; promote policies and practices that support youth development; and help young people build positive relationships with mentors, peers and trusted adults.
“We are grateful to Public Safety Canada for this continued investment in Maple Ridge and for recognizing the success and importance of this work,” said Mayor Dan Ruimy. “This funding allows us to build on the real difference that RISE, our flagship program, is making for young people and families in our community. By bringing together the City, RCMP, schools, health care providers and community organizations, we are reducing risk, strengthening resilience and helping youth make positive choices. Extending this program means we can continue that momentum and keep investing in prevention, early intervention and the long-term well-being of our community.”
The partnership between the City and Maple Ridge RCMP supports a coordinated approach to addressing the root causes of youth violence and helping young people make positive life choices.
“This collaboration between the City and the RCMP gives us a unique opportunity to support vulnerable youth earlier and more effectively,” said Superintendent Martin Guay, Officer in Charge of Maple Ridge RCMP. “By working with community service agencies, we can provide individualized support, strengthen referral pathways and help families and youth build the resilience they need to move forward in a positive way.”
The three-year plan will continue to focus on programs, services and partnerships that prioritize safety, wellness, inclusion and positive connection for youth in Maple Ridge through the FYRST (Family & Youth Resource Support Team) program which anchors intervention with a Youth and Family Counsellor, Youth Outreach Worker and RCMP Youth Liaison Officers integrated into City operations.
Updates on the progress and plans for the renewed project will be shared later this year.
About RISE
RISE is a flagship municipal-led, multi-agency approach that addresses risk factors linked to youth violence and promotes protective factors like mentorship, skills development and pro-social connection.
Since launching in April 2023, RISE reached nearly 8,000 children, youth, families, service providers and community members through intervention, prevention, education and engagement activities. Youth risk levels decreased significantly between intake and file closure, with high-risk cases dropping from 14% to 6% and moderate-risk cases from 49% to 20%. The program also helped reduce the demand on police resources, with average monthly RCMP hours per youth decreasing by 71% after program involvement. In addition, the initiative supported 89 youth and caregivers through intervention services, delivered more than 2,000 hours of prevention programming and trained 219 service providers to improve knowledge, coordination and collaboration.
About the Building Safer Communities Fund (BSCF)
This federal investment is made through the Building Safer Communities Fund (BSCF) which provides funding to municipalities and Indigenous communities to support locally designed prevention and intervention initiatives that address the root causes of gun and gang violence. The goal is to provide children, youth and young adults with opportunities that will help guide them away from gangs and guns, strengthen community connections and make communities safer.
For additional information, please visit MapleRidge.ca/RISE or contact Allison MacRae, Manager of Police Services at AMacRae@MapleRidge.ca.
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Media contact:
Pardeep Purewal, Senior Manager Corporate Communications and Public Engagement
T 604 466 4319 C 778 955 4249 E Media@MapleRidge.ca