New non-profit aiming to help educate Calgarians about justice system, legal support
A new non-profit organization that aims to help people access support and resources to learn more about the justice system and legal issues is preparing to open its doors in Calgary.
The ABC Foundation held an event to launch the initiative on Saturday morning.
“We realize that there is a lack of resources that's available now. And the institutions that there are, there are some barriers, that do not allow those individuals to have those accesses,” Angeline Lal, the founding director of ABC Foundation, said.
“So looking at the fact that those barriers exist, we're looking to fill in those gaps.”
Lal said the ABC Foundation envisions a future where Canadians have the tools and resources to navigate any legal situations they may encounter.
“We are essentially hoping that within the next year, there is nobody who's going to be in Calgary that will be like, ‘Well, where do we find a lawyer? Or how do we deal with something that that's happening?’” she said.
“So our offices, this is what our mandate is, is to ensure that we don't turn anyone away and that everybody has access to justice or any other resources that they may need.”
Alberta Justice Minister of Justice Mickey Amery was on hand on Saturday morning to help launch the foundation.
“We know that … there's so much more to justice than prisons and prosecutions. And we want to make sure that we support all of the not-for-profits and agencies all across this province, that are doing things to help address justice in different ways,” he said.
The ABC Foundation is opening its office to the public on Monday. The non-profit is hoping to assist around 1,500 to 2,000 people within the next year.
Lal said amplifying marginalized voices and helping vulnerable people is part of the organization’s focus, regardless of any language or systemic barriers.
With files from CTV News Calgary's Tyler Barrow
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bank of Canada cuts interest rate, signals more to come if inflation keeps dropping
The Bank of Canada has decreased its policy interest rate for the second consecutive time and signalled more cuts are coming if inflation continues to ease.
Wildfire north of Calgary prompts evacuation alert, highway closures
A wildfire is prompting evacuations and highway closures north of Calgary.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
Russian man is among those arrested in plots targeting Paris Olympics
French authorities have foiled several plots to disrupt the 2024 Olympics, including arresting a Russian man in one of them, officials said Wednesday, just days before the opening ceremony of the Summer Games in Paris.
Whale surfaces, capsizes fishing boat off New Hampshire coast
Two fishermen are safe after a whale crashed onto their boat, capsizing it off the New Hampshire shore, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
BREAKING 2 dead, 2 injured after 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.
EXCLUSIVE Canadian company at the centre of alleged international pyramid scheme: authorities
Foreign governments say hundreds of thousands of people in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka lost savings to a company headquartered in Canada. This investigation from the IJF and CTV News shines a new light on how Canadian shell companies and registries were used to pull off the scheme.
Wildfire evacuees ordered to leave Jasper find relief after long journey to safety
Some wildfire evacuees who were trapped in traffic for hours while leaving Jasper National Park say they are feeling relieved to have found safety.
Man who attacked author Salman Rushdie charged with supporting terrorist group
A man who severely injured author Salman Rushdie in a frenzied knife attack in western New York faces a new charge that he supported a terrorist group.