Police officers make significant contributions to keep our communities safe, including innovative work to support and empower young people who come in contact with the criminal justice system. The Department of Justice is proud to collaborate with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) and Canadian Police Association to announce the 2025 Minister of Justice National Youth Justice Policing Award.
Yesterday at the CACP annual summit, on behalf of Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Ruby Sahota, Secretary of State (Combatting Crime) presented the Longueuil Police Service in Quebec with the award for their outstanding work on the Groupe Contact project. The award recognizes police-led projects that look beyond the formal court system and exemplify the spirit of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
The Groupe Contact project is a community-based, trauma-informed youth intervention program that supports youth between the ages of 12 and 17, who have come in contact or are at risk of coming in contact with the criminal justice system. The project promotes positive development rather than harmful behaviour with personalized intervention support plans for each young person. The project hosts school workshops, outreach programs, summer camps and sport activities to encourage youth to reach their potential. Groupe Contact is comprised of an interdisciplinary team of police officers, criminal analysts, and youth counsellors, who work with various community partners to ensure young people in Longueuil are supported and equipped with resources for success.
As this year's winner, the Longueuil Police Service will receive $10,000 from the Youth Justice Fund to support its work with Groupe Contact. The Department of Justice is proud to celebrate the innovative work being done by its partners and congratulates this year's winner.
