Jason Unrau
Northern News Services

Inuvik (May 28/04) - As the Inuvik Youth Centre prepares to lose its third co-ordinator since the beginning of the year, the Mackenzie Road teen hangout appears to be at a crossroads.

Coupled with the Society for Inuvik Youth's efforts to drum up $25,000 in much-needed upgrading funds for the facility, the board has its share of challenges ahead.

Society chair Barb Armstrong says that much time and energy is going into revitalizing the youth centre, however, it is an up-hill battle.

"It's a volunteer board and people are working their guts out trying to fix this, but there's only so much time and energy," she said.

In January, then youth centre co-ordinator Terry Collins resigned for personal reasons. He was replaced by Trevor Rogers, who had been handling duties as the centre's youth worker under Collins.

Earlier this month, Rogers -- who had been charged with administration duties as well as activity planning (formerly the work of two) -- resigned citing irreconcilable differences with the board.

Enter Apryl Bonia, former Charlotte Veehus Special Care Home activity aid, hired in the wake of Rogers' parting ways with the centre.

Unfortunately for the youth centre, Bonia has informed the board that she will be stepping down in early July because she is relocating to Deline.

"I'm trying to put some programs together and prepare the centre for a new co-ordinator," said Bonia. "I've told the board that I will stay until a replacement is found."

It's small mercy for the centre that needs new funds almost as much as a new co-ordinator.

"The biggest problem is money," said Armstrong. "We're asking our co-ordinator to do too much. We almost need a superhero and we can't find one for $20 an hour."