$15 Million Provided for Alzheimer’s Research

The provincial government is providing $15 million in funding for the Pacific Alzheimer Research Foundation to support new research aimed at eliminating Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, announced Premier Gordon Campbell.

• The new Foundation will actively solicit leading scientists to apply for grants to conduct research in preventing or arresting Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
• The Alzheimer Society of Canada estimated that 435,000 Canadians are currently suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or related illnesses.
• The new funding for Alzheimer’s research will be made available from the Ministry of Advanced Education.  The Province has invested more than $1 billion in research and innovation since 2001.

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$5 Million for New Equipment Supports Trades Training

Trades training students at public post-secondary institutions will benefit from a $5 million grant to the Trades Training Consortium of B.C. to buy updated equipment, announced Advanced Education Minister Murray Coell.

• The Trades Training Consortium of B.C. is comprised of the public post-secondary institutions that deliver trades training.
• The Consortium works with the Industry Training Authority (ITA), as well as government ministries and training agencies to ensure that high quality trades training is effectively and efficiently delivered.
• In addition to this grant, the provincial government recently provided $1.5 million to the ITA to acquire a mobile training unit for rural and Aboriginal communities in B.C.

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Province Proclaims First Victims of Crime Week

The third week of April will be Victims of Crime Week in recognition of the rights and needs of victims and to promote the services available to them, announced Solicitor General John Les.

• Services for victims of crime available include: the Crime Victim Assistance program which includes counselling, 150 victim services programs in communities across B.C., the Victim Safety Unit that promotes victim safety by notifying protected parties about the release of offenders from custody and administers the phone and alarm program for victims and VictimLINK, a 24-hour service providing immediate crisis support.
• More than $1.3 million in funding was announced this week for 30 community-based programs across B.C. to help prevent the sexual exploitation of women, children and youth. The programs receiving funding will do everything from educating local communities on the sexual exploitation of youth, to hosting community forums, to providing support, education and life skills training to prevent individuals from getting involved in the sex trade.
• Les also announced a $50,000 grant to Abbotsford Community Services to coordinate a six-month pilot project in Abbotsford, Langley and Mission.

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Hartley Bay Receives First Ever Community Award

Residents of Hartley Bay received the first ever B.C. Award for Achievement by a Community, presented by Premier Gordon Campbell on behalf of the British Columbia Achievement Foundation.

• The award is a special initiative of the foundation and was created in response to the events of March 22, 2006, when the Queen of the North sank near Hartley Bay.
• Residents helped transport passengers and crew to safety after hearing the ferry’s distress call and provided food and shelter.
• The Achievement Foundation’s board of directors agreed that the actions of the community exemplified the spirit of B.C. Community Achievement Awards.

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