A youth centre for Thunder Bay

THERE’S nothing to do! This age-old complaint from young people is often rooted in a lack of awareness of many opportunities for fun and stimulating activities in their communities.
But giving youth a single, central, organized go-to option — a youth centre — is perhaps the best idea for them and for the community at large.
It is reminiscent of the 1960s in some ways, but it is not dated and certainly not without merit.
The City of Thunder Bay has been working toward just such a project and a report to city council tonight will lay out an expanded vision that has come about through co-operation with a youth group and a company with an interest in the concept.
Council’s strategic plan directed that a youth strategy be developed to address community needs and gaps for older teens.
It also stipulated, logically, that youth be engaged in the development of options for a youth centre. Too often, youth programming does not incorporate youth input from the start.
The Youth Services Advisory Committee began work with Youth Centres Canada, a national, non-profit organization that helps communities create youth opportunities and develop programming.
At the same time, the Wasaya Group, a diversified business operating in Thunder Bay, began to work on how to meet the needs of new students who come to Thunder Bay from First Nations communities for education.
Wasaya met with the Regional Multicultural Youth Council — a progressive youth group that does its homework — which was also meeting with the city and the idea of a broad, inclusive program in a new youth centre was born.
This meeting of minds will see a pilot project established in Victoriaville, with council’s blessing. We hope it comes and wish this project well.