Longueuil youth centre aims to break cycle of violence among young people with new video

A youth centre on the South Shore is trying to do something about the rise of youth violence in Quebec with a new awareness video.

A youth organization on Montreal’s South Shore released a new awareness video aimed at preventing youth violence.

Titled “Stronger Without Violence,” the video aims to spark conversation surrounding violence involving weapons and to help identify risky behaviour.

“We want to get youth reflecting,” said Kimberly Grondines of Maison Kekpart.

She says the video puts young people at the centre, helping them identify moments when they could become witnesses of violence, and in some cases perpetrators.

Maison Kekpart in Longueuil has been working with youth for 45 years and worked with Longueuil police for the initiative.

Officer Hassan Dagher, who appears in the video, says police have seen a rise in youth violence since the COVID-19 pandemic. “We saw an increase in criminality with violence, including weapons,” he said.

Dagher says more young people are carrying weapons without understanding the serious consequences.

“With the easy access to weapons, they use them against each other,” he said.

According to a 2025 report by the Direction de la protection de la jeunesse du Québec (DYP), the number of 12- to 17-year-olds receiving services under the youth criminal justice system increased 7.4 per year compared to last year. Nearly 79 per cent of those youth were boys.

The video highlights the importance of talking to a trusted adult or turning to sports or music as alternatives to violence.

The video was financed by Quebec’s ministry of public security.