The Town of Innisfil’s Building Safer Communities project is a multi-year (2023-2026) crime and violence prevention initiative that aims to proactively build a safer community by addressing the underlying social conditions that give rise to crime and supporting our children, youth, and young adults.

BSCF Support

The project is funded by the Government of Canada’s Building Safer Communities Fund (BSCF). The Town of Innisfil’s project includes:

  1. Recreation, Wellness, and Leadership Opportunities for Children and Youth
  2. Public Education and Awareness
  3. Community Partnerships and Collaborative Initiatives

Recreation, Wellness, and Leadership Opportunities

The Building Safer Communities project is funding a variety of opportunities for children and youth, including:

  • Teen Nights – Free, drop-in programs that provide youth in Grades 7 to 12 with safe, welcoming, and dedicated spaces to gather, connect, and have fun. 
  • Innisfil Mobile Youth Centre (MYC) – New MYC events for teens were piloted in July and August of 2024.  
  • Programs and Activities for Youth – The Town of Innisfil and the Innisfil ideaLAB & Library are offering new programs and activities to help youth develop life and relationship skills, hobbies and interests, and a sense of community. The ideaLAB & Library is also partnering with community members and organizations to offer dedicated programs, activities, and events for racialized and marginalized youth. Visit the Town's online Youth Hub for more information.
  • Healthy Relationships Program – We're funding a community-based violence prevention program to equip youth with skills to engage in healthy relationships and manage situations with conflict. 
  • Speak Your Mind Youth Mental Health Summit – This annual event aims to normalize mental health and wellness by providing Innisfil youth in Grades 8 to 12 with mental health education.
  • Family Education and Relationship Building – The Town and the Innisfil ideaLAB & Library are facilitating education and relationship building opportunities for children and their parents/guardians to promote the development of children and youth’s developmental assets, and positive, nurturing parent-child relationships. Check out our Family Wellness Nights and the Library's MakeIT Family program. 
  • Youth Connex Committee (YCC) – This committee is made up of Innisfil students in Grades 8 to 12. The YCC will receive additional resources to plan youth-led activities and events in Innisfil, like the Youth Skate Night and Fresh Air Flicks Teen Movie Night in 2024.
  • YouthCALL Service Link – This collaborative project, led by CFS Counselling + Wellbeing, provides service navigation support via phone, text, and drop-in to youth (ages 12 to 25) living in South Simcoe. YouthCALL is supported by the Canadian Mental Health Association of York and South Simcoe, CONTACT Community Services, Gilbert Centre, New Path, and Youth Haven. BSCF funds will bring YouthCALL's Community Service Navigators to Innisfil more regularly. To access a Community Service Navigator, call/text 705-790-2338, or visit YouthCALL at the Innisfil ideaLAB & Library's Lakeshore Branch on Thursday afternoons. 

Public Education and Awareness

We're working with the South Simcoe Police Service and community partners to provide public education and raise awareness about issues related to community safety and well-being. This included a series of events and programs for the 2024 Crime Prevention Week. 

Community Partnerships and Collaborative Initiatives

We're creating new opportunities to work with residents, community groups, non-profit organizations, school boards, and local businesses to meet the needs of Innisfil's children, youth, and families. 

The Innisfil Child, Youth, and Family Wellness Coalition is a pilot initiative of the Building Safer Communities project. The Coalition will promote teamwork across various sectors to enhance the well-being of Innisfil residents and contribute to community violence prevention efforts.

Status reports

View the below staff reports to learn more about BSCF progress.

  1. Building Safer Communities Fund Project Update One
  2. Building Safer Communities Fund Project Update Two