Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Apr 22/02) - Qikiqtani Inuit Association's local youth co-ordinator has spent months preparing Iqaluit's brightly-coloured youth centre in the Dome building. He says the centre, set to open in May, will do more than combat boredom.

News/North: Is the youth centre open?

Jason Currie: Not officially ... Just last week we got furniture and computers. We assembled the furniture. That took a while. Ikea -- it wasn't very fun. Right now, we're doing little things, preparing the building.

NN: Do you have a grand opening date?

JC: No, that hasn't been set yet. I've been waiting for my managers to have their schedules free. It should be in early May.

NN: Do you still need volunteers?

JC: We do need volunteers but we haven't figured out what specific areas we want to focus in on. We need general volunteers, helping out around, supervising, playing board games with the public.

NN: What hours will it be open?

JC: I have a schedule but it's not plotted out in stone yet. It will be open from 8:30 am to 11 p.m. And until 12 a.m. on weekends.

NN: Do you think kids will skip school if it's open during the day?

JC: They might at first. But we won't promote that at all. There are people who are unemployed who might need help.

NN: The youth centre isn't just for youth?

JC: No, it's basically for everyone.

NN: Can you tell me what the youth centre will be like?

JC: We're looking at combining two of the rooms. People can come in and gather information on basic things around town that are scattered about in government departments, like job openings or calls for proposals.

NN: There's also a gym?

JC: Yes, we're currently looking for more equipment, a rowing machine, a stationary bike and a larger workout bench.

We've also been talking to Andrew Riendeau of the Player's Arcade. He agreed to lend us a pool table and an arcade game or two. He's been getting a little heat though from the town council which is causing some of his funding not to go through. He's asked us to write a letter of support for the upcoming town meeting. Hopefully that will go well, because then we can fill in the other rooms. Also, it's good to support Inuit-owned businesses.

I'm not too worried about what's in that room. I like that room. There's a good atmosphere in that room. It's a good place to hang out, play board games, whatever. There's also a TV room.

NN: Did the kids paint it?

JC: No, it was me and the staff at the youth department. It took two weeks for the three of us. We wanted it to look inviting and not your normal white, which is pretty boring. The kids did paint the foyer. We have invited some youth to come in and finish it.

NN: You were born and grew up in Iqaluit?

JC: Yes.

NN: How did you get into this line of work?

JC: I like being proactive in the community. My supervisor came up to me (before he was my supervisor) asked me if I wanted to take this position. I do like challenges, especially when it comes to work.

NN: Have you always been interested in helping out youth?

JC: It's like a quote I heard the other day. It goes something like this: too bad the only people who know how to run the world are cab drivers and hairdressers.

For a while now, I'm been thinking about things that could better our society and the community in general. Working for a non-profit organization is a good start to help change the world.

I have been involved in work somewhat like this, as a day camp leader back in 1998 for three summers. I developed programs for kids, making sure they weren't bored throughout the summer.

NN: How do you want the youth centre to help young people?

JC: I would like them to take advantage of certain programs, like the Community Access Program. I know, before I had a computer, I wasn't sure where to go to get a resume or do a little research. Sometimes the hours of the library are inconvenient. I'd like to see them take advantage of the (computer) room and use it for their benefit.

We also plan to do gaming here. And in a way, that helps them because it's combating boredom.

A lot to things we do here is to combat boredom. But at the centre, people will find out about information they normally wouldn't have any idea about. And then they can apply themselves and take advantage of that.

There are a lot of programs out there the public should be more aware of.

NN: Do you want to keep working with youth?

JC: Not necessarily with youth. I do enjoy working for people, to try to develop programs for people. I have no idea, 10 years from now, what I'll be doing. But I do enjoy this line of work. I'll continue to work doing something that's proactive ... I don't mind sitting on committee boards.

I have applied to further my education.

NN: Where did you apply?

JC: Nunavut Sivuniksavut. It's focused mainly on the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, the Articles pertaining to that, and how the government works in conjunction with it. I'm really interested in that area.

I know there's a lot more to know. If you're in this line of work, you've got to know how Nunavut works to better exploit it.

I think it's a good start.

NN: You must be proud of the youth centre.

JC: It wasn't only me. But yeah, I'm proud that I was a part of it.