Gurinder Mann of Surrey is the winner of the Restorative Justice Memorial Award. Mann has been involved in the restorative justice community since he was a teenager. Baljinder Kandola of Richmond is the winner of the Youth Leadership Award. Cst. Kandola found her passion in crime prevention and community policing early in her 19-year policing career.

By PD Raj – Senior Writer DESIBUZZCanada

VICTORIA – Two Indo-Canadians are among five community leaders and one community organization to receive awards for their ongoing support for victims of crime, including those impacted by gender-based violence.

The 23rd annual Community Safety and Crime Prevention Awards were held by a virtual ceremony.

"These award recipients and nominees demonstrate that we can make a real difference in the lives of those who have been impacted by crime, violence and victimization," said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. "On behalf of the government, I want to thank each recipient for their dedication and commitment in keeping our communities safe and helping survivors of crime."

The awards acknowledge individuals, non-profit organizations, police and other local partners for their work in advancing crime prevention, restorative justice and other approaches that keep our communities safer. These efforts support provincial initiatives in policing, community safety and victim services.

"Each of the award recipients has shown an outstanding commitment to community, to care and to make our communities safer," said Grace Lore, Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity. "Their work has made a difference in the lives of British Columbians impacted by crimes, including survivors of sexual assault and abuse. I want to express my sincere gratitude for their efforts, for their trauma-informed and community-centred work and for all they have done to change lives in our province."

The Community Safety and Crime Prevention Awards were presented to:

* Lianne Ritch, Vancouver

* Dede Dacyk, Penticton

* Victoria Sexual Assault Centre, Victoria

* Gurinder Mann, Surrey

* Sandra Bryce, Victoria

* Baljinder Kandola, Richmond

Gurinder Mann, Surrey

Winner of the Restorative Justice Memorial Award, Mann has been involved in the restorative justice community since he was a teenager. Beginning as a volunteer as a facilitator at Communities Embracing Restorative Action (CERA) Society, Mann became a board member and worked his way up to executive director in 2010, a position he still holds. His passion, leadership and dedication to justice have earned CERA considerable accomplishments during his tenure. Mann is known for being a remarkable leader, educator, reformer, advocate and active volunteer. His knowledge and skills in a vast range of areas have enabled him to make an outstanding contribution to restorative justice, crime prevention and public safety.

Baljinder Kandola, Richmond

Winner of the Youth Leadership Award, Cst. Kandola found her passion in crime prevention and community policing early in her 19-year policing career. As co-ordinator of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program for the RCMP within Richmond schools, she has been instrumental in providing youth the tools they need to make healthy choices, including resistance strategies on how to deal with peer pressure and stress in a positive way. Since joining the DARE Society's board of directors in 2016, Kandola has expanded her passion for education beyond schools, developing and implementing DARE initiatives and events within the community.