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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Children of Yellowknife will have no excuse for wandering the streets after school thanks to the Royal Bank of Canada's support of an after-school program.

The bank, which has been the primary supporter and funder of the SideDoor Youth Ministries after-school program for several years along with the GNWT, presented its latest donation to the program late last month, contributing $26,500 to the SideDoor amid the cheers of the program's children and staff.

"RBC has been a faithful donor to our program and without their support many of these kids would not have a place to attend after school because parents could not afford it," said SideDoor executive director Garry Hubert. The program is offered free following each school day to children ages five to 13.

RBC donates nearly $200,000 to community programs, charities, and other organizations across the North each year, according to Jeff Fowler, regional vice-president for the bank North of 60.

"We want to give back to the community and support the good causes in communities where we have staff working. Not only do we have staff, our staff have family living here, their (family) members are all affected by it," Fowler said. "Obviously, there's a need for it too."

In addition to reading, writing, and recreational activities, the after-school program staff equip the children with practical life skills in a caring, nurturing environment, as opposed to the dangerous influences they might get on the street said Christopher Cobbler, program director.

"A lot of parents wouldn't have anywhere to send their kids after school so they would end up staying at home by themselves or wandering the streets," Cobbler said, concerned by how this could lead to tragedies such as kids going missing and being vulnerable to the abundance of alcohol and drugs made available to them.

In Yellowknife, children are getting hooked on substances as early as age 11, Cobbler said, describing the average age for first-time drug use as 13.

About 25 to 30 children regularly attend the after-school program.

RBC has continued support of the SideDoor after-school program for many years specifically because it is children-related and open to everyone in the community, said branch manager Joy Roberts.

"The after-school grant program is obviously geared toward children. And it is a program where any child could come here," she said.

This week, the SideDoor is planning to host its inaugural SideDoor Christmas Feast, open to all the children and young people in Yellowknife.

Youth from churches across town will be leading the evening's festivities, Cobbler said, but the Christmas feast is open to all young people and, in addition to food, Christmas gifts from the event's supporters will also be given to participants.

The SideDoor Christmas feast begins at 7 p.m. on Friday.

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