Graffiti Intervention Pilot Program Launched

A new and innovative intervention program is being launched for youth involved in graffiti vandalism.

The Boys and Girls Club of Calgary and the Calgary Police Service have partnered with The City of Calgary Culture to develop and implement the Up the Wall program. The initiative is funded by The City of Calgary Animal & Bylaw Services Crime Prevention Investment Plan and CPS.

This is part of ongoing efforts by police, government and community partners to work together to address crime using education, prevention, early intervention, treatment, as well as enforcement.

Graffiti vandalism affects communities throughout Calgary. Not only does it cost taxpayers and landowners millions of dollars to remove, it impacts the perception of safety of citizens and visitors, and can lead to other crime if not dealt with quickly.

Focusing on youth aged 12 to 17 who have either been charged with offences related to graffiti or are at a pre-charge phase, the Up the Wall program will provide participants with opportunities to explore the arts in alternative ways.

Up the Wall will engage youth through relationship-based case management, addressing some of the root causes of crime as youth begin to explore issues of social justice, the history of graffiti, youth voice and positive civic engagement facilitated through artistic self-expression.

The program will take place in a City of Calgary art facility, and is designed to offer youth an opportunity to explore their goals and ambitions by providing an outlet for positive self-expression and to develop key life skills.

This integrated group-based programming will be offered six hours a week, for 12 weeks beginning in early June. The program will be offered up to three times a year, with 10 to 12 participants during each session.

This pilot project is scheduled to run for up to two years, then will be evaluated by all partners.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary (BGCC) has been addressing the issues of lifelong health, social and life skill development associated with vulnerable children and youth for 75 years. BGCC’s mission is to provide a safe, supportive place where children and youth can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships and develop confidence and skills for life. Visit http://www.boysandgirlsclubsofcalgary.ca for more info.

The City of Calgary Public Art Program, within the division of Culture, is committed to acquiring great public art that impacts Calgary’s urban landscape and transforms the way Calgarians see, think and experience the city around them.

In addition to participating in the Up the Wall program, the Calgary Police Service has a full time Graffiti Co-ordinator, and is a member of the Joint Graffiti Investigative Team, a multi-agency group of officers from The City of Calgary Animal & Bylaw Services, Calgary Transit Public Safety & Enforcement and CPS, that focuses on investigating graffiti vandalism and graffiti offenders in Calgary.

Initiated by Council in 2005 and funded by Animal and Bylaw Services, the Crime Prevention Investment Plan (CPIP) supports crime prevention initiatives that target issues related to community safety and the maintenance of community standards. Acting as a seed funding source, CPIP assists new and innovative prevention programs relating to children, youth and families and community building. In 2014, CPIP is supporting community organizations in Calgary with a total of $672,000 in funding from the ABS operating budget.

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