Youth centre offers alternatives
Terry Halifax
Northern News Services
Hay River (Feb 12/01) - The age-old complaint from the young people in virtually every community is, "There's nothing do do!"
They can't say that in Hay River thanks to a community-driven youth centre that first opened in 1996.
The outpouring of community support is one of the main reasons for the successful program, said Glen Wallington, Baptist Minister and principal founder of the youth centre.
"We are really blessed from the generous support we get in this town," Wallington said.
But mainly, Wallington credits youth co-ordinator Andrea Webb for much of the continued support of the centre.
"She has been the success of the program," Wallington said. "She's been here for four years and she's fallen in love with the kids and they know it."
Webb worked her last day at the centre on Jan. 20. She's has taken a job at a centre in Kitimat, B.C.
At her going away party, Webb shed a few tears and said it's going to be tough to leave the extended family she's grown so attached to, but she also looks forward to new challenges.
"It's hard to leave ... each night was totally unpredictable," Webb said.
"This is a fun job; where else can you play laser tag and go to the beach and hang out with kids at the beach and get paid for it."
Along with the fun came the realities of working with young people. Webb said she's sometimes had to console grieving and depressed youth.
"It was always a challenge dealing with the problems that youth bring," she said.
"My goal was to be their friend and through that there is informal counselling that arises."
"You can have seven kids tell you heart-wrenching things in one night and you just have to stay focussed," she added.
Tons of fun
Warren Rymer said Andrea was a big part of why he hangs out at the centre.
"Andrea always made it fun," Rymer said. "She is such a nice person and it was always interesting."
Ryan Starcevic called Webb a friend and he appreciates the hard work she's done to make the centre a fun place to be.
"We get to have pool tournaments and she takes us to movies and camping in the summertime," he said.
"She never quits doing stuff, she's thinking of things to do all year round."
Lorenz Delorme has been hanging out at the centre for two years and thanked Webb for the time she shared.
"She's more than just a worker, she's a friend," Delorme said. "She's always cheerful and if she gets in a bad mood, she gets out of it right away."
Built on generosity
Working on a mandate from the church and recognizing the need in the community, Wallington set to work four years ago, to make a place the youth could call their own.
"What the ministerial wanted in the community and the town had a lot of concern for the youth in the community."
Wallington said there was a lot of vandalism in the community at that time and youth were hanging out in the downtown area.
He approached the ministerial with an idea to use the old Boys and Girls Club building for a youth centre. Working with the three other churches in town for about eight months, the youth centre opened its doors in June of 1996.
"We started with one pool table, a couple foosball machines and an air hockey game," he said.
Later a beach volleyball court was added out back along with a basketball court and soon an addition was built on the main building.
With donated help from local electric and plumbing companies, NTCL and the town, the addition was near-complete.
The Elk's Club donated money to finish the outside and the Lion's Club came up with cash for the inside finish and the new center re-opened three years ago.
"Then we built the rollerblade and skateboard park out there," he said.
"We hope to put in a street hockey rink that will also serve as an ice hockey rink in the winter."
"That will complete the development of the property."
Wallington still has some work to do on the inside of the building, but the kids have come to consider the centre as "their place."
Although it may be their place, the youth still need to follow strict rules, Wallington said.
"There is no alcohol or drugs allowed. If a youth comes in smelling like alcohol or stoned, they are sent home," he said.
As well there is no swearing or fighting and the youth must respect each other and the staff.
The centre is reviewing applications to fill Webb's position and is always looking for new volunteers.
