Calgary Young Offender Centre closure draws 200 protesters

The province's decision to close the Calgary YoungOffender Centre and move the youthto Edmonton is still generating controversy.

The centre houses young people and offers a variety of services, including counseling.

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In March, the Alberta government said the facility was underused and under capacity and the centrewouldno longer offer rehab services or house young offenders awaiting trial or serving sentences.

Close to 200 demonstrators gathered at the McDougall Centre Thursday night to protest the closure.

Aboriginal youth make up a large percentage of the young offenders housed at the centre and a First Nations elder opened the gathering with a prayer.

As a teenager, Ashley Green spent time inside the centre and currently has a family member inside the facility.

Green said contact with loved ones is an important part of rehabilitation.

"They might feel unwanted, they might feel that there is nobody there for them to back them up and say 'I'm here for you,'" she said.

Sarena Provost works with 10 to 15 aboriginal youth each week and saidforcing people to travel to Edmonton to visit a family member is counterproductive to the rehabilitation process.

"The chance of them re-offending are a lot higher because they are being removed from their natural supports and won't have that cultural connection," she said.

The Alberta Union of Public Employees organized the protest and took a shot at PC candidate Rick Hanson.

The union saidthe former Calgary police chief has mentioned youth as a priority and his silence on this issue is disappointing.