Windsor Youth Centre merges with Downtown Mission

The Windsor Youth Centre has merged its operations with the Downtown Mission, officials announced Thursday.

Services at the youth centre will be maintained, but they will operate as a program of the Mission.

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When the organizations merge as of Sept. 1, Tamara Kowalskawill remain as the director of operations at the youth centre and will join the leadership team at the Mission.

"Together, we will work to enhance existing programs and develop programs and develop new strategies to meet the emerging needs of youth at risk," she said in a news release.

Mission executive director Ron Dunnapplauded Kowalska for her work during the announcement at the youth centre.

"While the Mission has served the youth of our community, we had little programming aimed at helping homelessat-risk youth specifically," he said. "Tamara and her team are the leaders in Windsor-Essex... and bring this expertise to the table."