Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Providence (Oct 12/01) - Dance music blares from the stereo, occasionally punctuated by the clatter of pool balls and squealing, hormonal voices.

Arnold Bonnetrouge, left, and Charlene Bonnetrouge are taking care of business at the Fort Providence youth centre, which re-opened last month. - Derek Neary/NNSL photo

This has been the usual scene at the busy Fort Providence youth centre since it re-opened on Sept. 17, after several months of inactivity. Funding for the facility was recently made available through the Urban Multipurpose Aboriginal Youth Centres.

Some teenagers pile onto the couch, watching a movie on television. Others play foosball, cook in the kitchen or play on the computers, and some of the younger kids try their hand at board games. Of course, some youth occupy themselves by chasing each other around the building.

"They're starting to calm down," youth co-ordinator Charlene Bonnetrouge said over the din. Anyone who gets too rowdy is asked to leave. "We're pretty strict too. They know me from the pool."

Indeed, nearly all the teens and pre-teens know Bonnetrouge from her days as a pool supervisor and swimming instructor. She has attained her community recreation management diploma from Mount Royal College in Calgary. After taking this year away from her studies, she's thinking about going to the University of Alberta to complete a physical education or recreation degree.

As youth co-ordinator, Bonnetrouge is also responsible for the administration duties and writing a youth centre newsletter. With help from youth workers Arnold Bonnetrouge and Patti Bouvier, she has planned a number of activities such as dances, teen tae-bo, movie nights, craft nights and study hall.

Study hall?

Yep, apparently the kids asked for it themselves, she said.

"We're going to try things out and see how it works," said Bonnetrouge. "We're going to learn from our mistakes."

Not all the activities will take place within the confines of the youth centre. For example, Bonnetrouge is considering a group bicycle trip to Kakisa, where they would camp overnight.