Inuvik (Dec 08/06) - Due to what is being called a lack of respect, the Inuvik Youth Centre has temporarily closed for the month of December.

"We were forced to close our doors as a consequence for the increasing, and unacceptable, levels of disrespect being shown to the youth centre facilities, equipment and staff," said Brook Land-Murphy, the director for the facility.

The centre closed its doors on Nov. 27 and will re-open them on Dec. 28.

Land-Murphy said the closure will affect herself and the other workers who enjoy their time with the young people of town.

"I am really saddened by the fact that it has gotten to the point where we had to shut down the centre for a month," she said.

The extreme action comes only a few months after the centre received its charitable status.

For Land-Murphy, the closure was an action that needed to be taken.

"I personally would love to see the lights on, and the space filled every night with kids who are getting such obvious benefit from the centre," she said.

"However, the youth really left us with no alternative; the serious disrespect some of them were showing on an ongoing way for the centre and staff had gotten to the point where we had to take action, to do something which would shock them into rethinking their actions and behaviour."

Teaching the youth a lesson is something that Land-Murphy sees as positive in the matter.

"If we didn't do something to force a change, we'd be enabling some seriously destructive behaviour, and teaching the kids that it is OK to destroy public facilities, and treat its staff badly," said Land-Murphy.

The decision was made during an emergency meeting of the youth centre board.

Volunteer board member Bobbie Jo Greenland says she is also concerned with the closing.

"Closing for a month won't solve anything, but it will make the statement that negative behaviour won't be tolerated," said Greenland.

"The centre is a positive place offering a location for youth to hang out."