Inuvik (Nov 03/06) - After a 10-month wait, the Inuvik Youth Centre Society received its charitable status from the Canada Revenue Agency.

Centre director Brook Land-Murphy said the status will help the program attain funding from sources that would not be available to groups that aren't listed as a charity.

"This is to enable sustained funding for the centre," said Land-Murphy.

"We are currently under government funding. It will be good to have a wide range of sources."

The centre's current annual funding is $200,000.

Twenty-five per cent of its total funding is provided by the government. The rest of the money comes from industry support.

Companies like Conoco-Phillips, the Inuvialuit Oilfield Services and the Gwich'in band all contribute to its funding.

The centre currently has eight staff members working during the week.

The centre has determined that approximately 1,300 youth use the facility per month.

Land-Murphy said the centre offers a total of seven programs that run each day of the week.

Martin Landry is the chair of the Inuvik Youth Centre board.

Landry said the charitable status is something the centre has worked hard to attain.

"Reaching charitable status has been a long-time goal of the Inuvik Youth Centre," said Landry.

"In it's 10th year of operation, becoming a registered charity is one of the many positive steps the centre has taken to continually improve the services it is able to offer to the youth of Inuvik."

In order to achieve the status, the centre had to submit a 20-page application to Revenue Canada.

The information had to include the centre's most recent financial statements, detailed account of activities and board member information. "We will continue to improve our programs offered to the youth, with help from our supporters," said Land-Murphy.