Chris Puglia
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 18/02) - The shrill sounds of 60 youth would be a nightmare for some, but for the Side Door Youth Centre it is the sweet sound of success.

Eight years ago Kevin Laframboise, Side Door executive director, began the centre in the basement of the Anglican Church.

Over the past three years it has received maximum funding from the Royal Bank of Canada After School grant program.

"When you look at the communities involved in the program across the country they are very competitive and that's why Yellowknife can be very proud.

"To bring this kind of money into a city this size is significant," said Doug Nelson, RBC Manager for Yellowknife.

In 2001 the Junior Side Door program at the centre, which provides free after school care to youth 8 to 13, qualified for RBC funding under a two year program.

In the first year the program received the maximum $40,000 and an additional $40,000 in the second year.

"Because of the success they qualified for a third year," said Nelson.

This year they received $25,000 and this might be the last year RBC will donating money to the program.

"The direction of their (RBC) funding has been after school, but they may be changing their focus," said Laframboise.

The funding has been instrumental for getting the Junior Side Door project on its feet and Laframboise said if they are not funded next year they will definitely feel a difference.

"We'll feel it but we'll look at new and creative ways to sustain ourselves," he said.

The Side Door program allows youth to play games, pool, watch TV and provides places for them to do homework. It is also the longest-running youth program in Yellowknife history.