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 receives funding from the BSCF to plan youth-led activities and events in Innisfil, like the Youth Skate Night and Fresh Air Flicks Teen Movie Night in 2024.
  • YouthCALL – This collaborative project, led by CFS Counselling + Wellbeing, provides mental health and service navigation support to youth ages 12 to 25 via phone, text, and drop-in services. BSCF funds bring YouthCALL to Innisfil more regularly. To access support, call/text 705-790-2338, or visit the YouthCALL Walk-In Counselling Clinic at the Innisfil ideaLAB & Library's Lakeshore Branch on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

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 Youth & Community Action Network - Innisfil (also known as YouthCAN or YCAN - Innisfil) is a collaborative group of community members and organizations working together to create and implement strategies to support the safety and well-being of youth and families in our community. The group formed in the fall of 2024 as a network group of the Child, Youth and Family Services Coalition of Simcoe County, and as a pilot initiative of the Building Safer Communities project.

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