Thunder Bay Moves Forward for Youth

THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay City Council has “moved the yardsticks” as Councillor Andrew Foulds put it, and approved a new partnership with the Indian Friendship Centre that will see a new Youth Centre in the Intercity area.

The proposed youth centre in Thunder Bay was approved last night by City Council.

The Thunder Bay Indian Friendship Centre will take over the former Port Arthur Prosvita Hall, with support in the neighbourhood of $2.5 million for the youth centre. The City portion of the funding is based on approval of funding from the provincial and federal governments.

Councillors also approved annual funding for operations and programs at the $300,000 level.

Deputations Seemed Confused

Council heard deputations last night on the youth centre. A neighbourhood group presented concerns over potential alcohol and drug use at the youth centre. Councillor Ken Boshcoff took on the presenters, asking them if they realized that the Indian Friendship Centre is alcohol and drug free.

Then the group explained that youth would never be able to find the youth centre at the proposed location.

Hearing concerns that youth might “not be able to find the new youth centre”, Boshcoff explained “If a young person wants to go somewhere, they will Google it”.

Council has moved quickly on the proposal of the new Youth Centre. The project was first brought to Council in June with the Indian Friendship Centre seeking support to purchase the Port Arthur Prosvita Hall.

Over the past eighteen months, Thunder Bay has been engaged in a public/private partnership in a youth centre pilot project in the Victoriaville Centre. The Youth TBay centre has put forward the needed planning and governance needed to safely run a youth centre.