Alberta puts nearly $21M into sexual violence supports, Medicine Hat's Sanare included
The province says the funding will help sexual assault and child advocacy centres meet growing demand for trauma-informed care across Alberta.
Why it matters
The funding affects how survivors of sexual violence and abuse in southeastern Alberta access timely, specialized care.
The Alberta government is investing nearly $21 million to expand specialized supports for people affected by sexual violence and abuse, with funding reaching 15 sexual assault centres and the Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services. Of that, $17 million goes to those centres, including the Southeastern Alberta Sexual Assault Response Committee, known as Sanare, in Medicine Hat.
An additional $3.7 million in annual funding will go to eight child advocacy centres, including Sanare, which provide coordinated care for children, youth and families affected by sexual violence and abuse.
Children and Family Services Minister Searle Turton said the investments strengthen critical support for survivors, while Arts, Culture and Status of Women Minister Tanya Fir said the funding helps ensure trauma-informed care remains available across Alberta communities. Indigenous Relations Minister Rajan Sawhney said the money will bolster culturally sensitive, survivor-centred services, noting Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit-plus people face disproportionate rates of sexual violence.
The Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services said the funding provides stability and capacity for centres facing rising demand. The province says Budget 2026 includes more than $93 million for preventing family and sexual violence, and that $6.3 million of a separate $10-million commitment to sexual assault centres will be delivered by the end of this fiscal year.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.