Thunder Bay set to get two new youth centres

Superior Morning4:50Thunder Bay Youth Centres

Thunder Bay is set to get two new youth centres this year. The decision follows an intense discussion at City council. We hear some of it.

Young people in Thunder Bay, Ont., will have access to more activities this year.

City Council approved $105,500 in funding for two new youth centres at its budget review meeting on Thursday night.

The budget is yet to be ratified.

City administrators told council they could not yet reveal the locations of the new centres, but said thatthey are in "high need areas" and that the city isvery close to finalizing arrangements for them.

The new centres would supplement existing youth programs housed in the Current River and West Thunder Community Centres.

"I think they're outstanding," Coun. Andrew Fouldstold CBC, adding his son has used the Current Riveryouth centre.

"They do things like baking and crafts. They play games, indoor and outdoor. They also do some travelling. They have opportunities to go to different venues within the city. And they're able to do that a little more cheaply, so those families and those kids that may not have a lot of means can go to some other facilities in the city and participate."

'overdue in reaching out to youth'

Councillors voted down a proposalfrom mayor Keith Hobbstocutthe funding in half and proceed with only one youth centre instead of two.

"I think we're long overdue reaching out to the youth in this community, and I think we need to do everything we can to attempt tocatch up, and two isn't a bad number," said Coun. Iain Angus in expressing his opposition to Hobbs' suggestion.

Coun. Shelby Ch'ngalso opposed Hobbs' motionsayingit was "duplicitous" for the city to claim it can't afford two youth centres while making its proposed event centre its number one infrastructure priority.

Large youth facility still in the works

Council still hopes to partner with other levels of government to create a large, central facility for youth, Coun. Paul Pugh told CBC.

A previous partnership with the Thunder Bay Indian Friendship Centre that would have involved purchasing the former Prosvitacentrefailed when the federal government refused to support to the initiative.

"It's always been a plan to have a hub and satellites, but the satellites right now are having to take the bulk of well they are our youth program," Pugh said,"and that's not the final goal."

The acting executive director of the Thunder Bay Youth Connections Coalition praised the city's decision to fund the two new centres.

"Just having a safe and open place for youth to access in Thunder Bay, it's just great to see," saidKwakuDanielVoss.

The coalition has been working to create a virtual youth centre to replace Youth Tbay, a centre for at-risk youth thatclosed this past summer due to funding shortages.