Helping those in need

By Chantelle de Jonge Chestermere-Strathmore MLA

Every Albertan deserves to feel safe in their home and community. Sadly, family violence continues to hurt too many people in our province. It affects children, parents, grandparents, and neighbours. The impacts can last for generations. That’s why Alberta’s government is giving $4 million to support 31 community projects across Alberta that will help stop family violence before it begins.

These projects are led by 29 local organizations that are stepping up to help families and communities grow stronger. Some programs offer mentorship for young people, others provide support groups, sports programs, and training that helps teach healthy relationships. Many of these projects focus on reaching vulnerable groups, including Indigenous families, newcomers, rural communities, people with disabilities, and men and boys.

Prevention of family violence is key. By giving Albertans the right tools and targeted supports, we can break the cycle of family violence and build a healthier future. The funding for these community projects is a vital part of Alberta’s 10-year Strategy to End Gender-Based Violence. It’s a plan that outlines how our government will support survivors, hold offenders accountable, and work with communities to stop violence before it starts.

Government cannot do this important work alone. It takes committed local organizations, community leaders, and families all working together to make a real difference. By investing in prevention, we are giving vulnerable people hope, healing, and the skills to build lasting change.

If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, help is available 24/7. Call or text Alberta’s Family Violence Info Line at 310-1818 or visit Family violence | Alberta.ca.

Together, we can all make Alberta a place where every person lives free from fear and violence.

Creating safe, thriving communities doesn’t stop at social services – it also depends on building a strong, sustainable economy that supports all Albertans. That is why Alberta’s government is also investing in one of our province’s foundational industries: agriculture.

Agriculture research is essential to helping one of Alberta’s longest-lasting and largest sectors remain strong and continue to grow.

Alberta’s agriculture sector has a well-earned reputation for making the world’s best agri-food products, from high-quality honey to top-shelf triticale. That reputation is owed in part to innovative research the province’s two crop diversification centres (CDC) have been conducting for decades, that directly benefits farmers.

With that in mind, Budget 2025 earmarked a total of $5.2 million for repairs, upgrades, replacements and operational support at both CDC North in northeast Edmonton and CDC South, southeast of Brooks.

As always, please feel free to reach out to my office with your feedback and questions

(Chantelle de Jonge is the MLA for Chestermere-Strathmore and the Parliamentary Secretary for Affordability and Utilities)