Minister's Crime Prevention Award Nominations Open

Nova Scotians are encouraged to nominate deserving individuals for a Minister's Award for Leadership in Crime Prevention.

Crime prevention can include developing partnerships and programs that address root causes of crime, providing leadership in a community, or supporting people in their efforts to prevent crime in their communities.

"Effective crime prevention is a result of communities, businesses, police and government agencies working together to provide necessary supports and services within a community," said Justice Minister Ross Landry. "Several communities and organizations across Nova Scotia are taking proactive and preventative approaches to crime prevention and these awards ensure they receive well-deserved recognition."

This is the fifth year for the Minister's Crime Prevention Awards. Leave Out Violence Nova Scotia (LOVE), an organization that offers leadership opportunities to youth connecting them to their community, was one of 13 recipients who received an award in 2012.

"We were very pleased to see LOVE recognized for its successful and innovative approach to working with young people," said Sarah MacLaren, executive director, Leave Out Violence Nova Scotia. "We are committed to making Nova Scotia a safer place by pioneering an approach that is long-term, youth-centered and credits young people with the abilities and knowledge to be part of the solution. The recognition helped validate our work."

The Department of Justice is accepting nominations in six categories:

• individual
• youth (21 and under)
• community Group or Organization
• policing
• media
• business community

For more information and nomination forms, visit www.gov.ns.ca/just. The deadline for nominations is Feb. 10.