South Simcoe Police will receive funding from the Ontario government as part of its $91 million Community Safety and Policing Grant Program, aimed at strengthening community safety across the province.
The $762,621.03 will support two key local initiatives:
- Project COMPASS, focused on mental health response
- Project RISE, which addresses human trafficking and sexual violence
Of the total investment, $299,781.03 will go toward Project COMPASS (Community-Oriented Mental Health Partnership and Support Strategy). This initiative enhances South Simcoe Police’s co-response model, pairing officers with crisis workers and local service providers to deliver trauma-informed responses, connect individuals with care, and prevent repeat crises. The program builds on the success of the COAST (Crisis Outreach and Support Team) model, which has become central to the service’s approach to mental health calls.
Meanwhile, $462,840 will be directed to Project RISE (Resilience, Intervention, Support, Empowerment). The project is designed to strengthen community resilience against human trafficking and sexual violence through education, outreach, partnerships, and enhanced police capabilities. The initiative emphasizes community collaboration to ensure victims are supported and empowered while fostering safer environments.
“As MPP for Barrie-Innisfil and a local resident, I applaud Ontario government’s dedication to keeping our communities safe by investing in the local police service,” says Andrea Khanjin, MPP for Barrie-Innisfil. Solicitor General Michael Kerzner added that the province is delivering on its promise to “ensure Ontario’s police services have the resources they need to address local issues and improve the well-being of the people they serve.”
South Simcoe Police’s initiatives are among 127 projects being funded across Ontario for 2025-26, targeting local and provincial priorities such as gun and gang violence, human trafficking, sexual violence, mental health and addictions, hate-motivated crime, housing, and retail theft.
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