The City of Airdrie will be receiving over $1 million in federal funding to help proactively combat gun and gang violence in the city. 

The announcement, which is part of the Building Safer Communities Fund (BSCF), was made on Monday at City Hall with federal and municipal officials in attendance. Mayor Peter Brown underlined that while Airdrie continues to be one of the safest communities in the region, with a low crime severity index, the funding will be a proactive tool, which will address issues within Airdrie's youth population. 

"Over a third of our population is under the age of 20. Our goal is to continue to keep gun and gang violence out of Airdrie through early intervention against bullying, and increasing the skills and support that youth need," Mayor Brown said. "Bullying isn't gun and gang violence, but we recognize that when it escalates, it can lead to increased risk for vulnerable youth. This is prevention funding."

The Mayor added that the funding will be used towards an ongoing collaborative effort between the Rocky View School Division, the RCMP, and the city's municipal enforcement.

"We look forward to working with our residents, business community and schools, and local youth-serving organizations to progress these important initiatives."

Member of Parliament for Calgary Skyview, George Chahal, who came on behalf of the Federal Minister of Public Safety, Dominic Leblanc, Minister of Public Safety, said that the federal government also underscored to prevention aspect of the funding. 

"This investment will help address the root causes of crime by supporting community-led projects for young people involved in gangs who were at risk of joining them; helping them set themselves up for success in life. It is a targeted approach that will ensure that communities most at risk will receive support promptly to invest in the safety of their residents."

When asked whether the City had applied for the funding, Megan Stewart with the City of Airdrie who works within intergovernmental affairs, clarified that Airdrie was chosen for the funding and the funding initiatives are significantly different than that of Calgary's.

"Ours is all preventative; bullying prevention, community education, and training. The [initiatives] are about early prevention, for preventing youth violence."

The BSCF is meant to, 'support municipalities and Indigenous communities to develop community-based prevention and intervention strategies and initiatives to tackle gun and gang activities, as well as support recipients to develop a plan to sustain successful prevention and intervention activities on completion of the five-year program.'

Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@discoverairdrie.com. You can also message and follow us on Twitter: @AIR1061FM

DiscoverAirdrie encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the DiscoverAirdrie app. For breaking news, weather and contest alerts click here.