Youth Night brings sober fun
Canada Day capped with midnight swim
Joseph Tunney
Northern News Services
Thursday, July 7, 2016
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
For some communities, evening swims might be the norm. But for 17 teenagers in Fort Simpson, the late-night dip was a rare treat.
Steven Thompson, left, joins in a golf game with Hendrix Martineau during the fourth Sober Sally/Sober Steve event of the year. Youth competed in games for the chance to win prizes. - April Hudson/NNSL photo
|
The swim came at the end of a long Canada Day topped with a youth carnival, which brought out dozens of young people to the recreation centre's arena and later to the pool.
With support from the recreation centre, Liidlii Kue First Nation, Open Doors Society, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and Bradbury Interiors, the evening carnival marked a year of youth nights and events designed to help young people make healthy choices when it comes to their free time.
Spearheaded by teacher and community member Jackie Thompson, who dubbed the evenings Sober Sally/Sober Steve, there have been four events so far.
"It's about encouraging safe choice . If kids are given the chance to make the right choice, they will make the healthy choice," said Thompson.
At the carnival, youth received some free popcorn, cotton candy and pop, as well as a bracelet and chances for door prizes.
Prizes included iTunes gift cards, Northern store gift cards and soccer balls. The more games each person played, the more chances they had to win a prize.
As for the games, Thompson used equipment supplied by Open Doors to create age-appropriate activity booths for young people to try out, by themselves or with friends.
These included a hole-in-one golf booth, strategy games and ball throw, among many more.
Aside from teaching children in Bompas Elementary School's Class 5, Thompson also coaches soccer for older children. During coaching, she said, she realized there is not enough programming for youth in the community.
"They feel under-served," she said."There is a lot of great programming in Fort Simpson for younger kids but we have a very important age group that isn't getting (programs)."
Thompson relies on donations from community groups and individuals for the events, dipping into her own pocket when need be. It has, she said, has been well worth it.
"I think (the youth) appreciate it, and I plan to continue this next year . I don't see myself stopping any time soon," she said. "I'm hoping we can get more involvement and volunteers."
In the future, Thompson hopes to throw a Sober Sally/Sober Steve movie night.
