They’re still in the early stages, but a committee is taking steps forward with their efforts to bring a youth centre to Estevan.
The eight-person group has been meeting since late last year. They don’t have a name or a location for the centre yet, but they have been consulting with various organizations to find out what they want.
Patrick Fisher, who is part of the committee, provided an update on the centre at the United Way Estevan’s annual general meeting March 25. The committee was formed as a community impact committee of the United Way, in an effort to help out youths in the community, particularly in the teenage years.
Other committee members are United Way Estevan executive director Sheila Guenther; United Way board member Travis Frank, who is also on city council; board member Dwight (Fitz) Bramble, who is also the city’s economic development co-ordinator; Estevan Chamber of Commerce executive director Jackie Wall; chamber board member Cathy Welta-Eagles; Living Hope Community Church youth pastor Jordan Culham; and Susan Colbow, who is the administrative assistant for Estevan MLA Lori Carr.
“The committee, as it stands right now, we are a little small, but it is a very diverse group with a very strong passion for this project,” said Fisher.
In the past couple of months, they have been in touch with youth centres in Yorkton, Moose Jaw and Swift Current.
“All of them have been very good at giving us insights, giving us financials and just giving us an idea of how they all started, how they have built up a following and gone from there,” said Fisher.
At the end of January, the committee held a meeting with various organizations and community members, including representatives from schools, newcomer organizations, churches, the Estevan Public Library, the No. 30 Wylie-Mitchell Air Cadet Squadron, Estevan Family Resource Centre and the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum.
“I think we had just over 20 people arrive that night. We had some good discussion questions about what people expected from a youth centre, what their idea was of what it would look like,” said Fisher.
The committee wants to ensure they are building up relationships, and collaborating with others.
Members have also been looking at creating policies and a sustainable business plan that would ensure the long-term future of the centre.
They also recognize the need to have the right person leading the project. In the case of Swift Current, they have a paid staff member in place who organized a lot of the programming.
He noted that Wall is a former Swift Current resident who has a lot of experience with the youth centre in that city.
While there would be programming at the youth centre, it would be more than just a hang-out area.
Fisher said the youth centre is still a ways off from hiring somebody or from beginning operations. The current uncertainty due to COVID-19 is adding to the difficulty.
But they are optimistic about the possibility of eventually bringing a youth centre to Estevan.
“Our group is still very passionate about bringing this project to life,” he said.
