INUVIK - Julian Ichim has never been the type to hide his frustration caused by social injustice.

A social activist for more than 15 years in Ontario, he has inspired many to join his fight against homelessness and poverty.

Preston Beaulieu, left, poses with the youth centre's new program co-ordinator Julian Ichim on Nov. 20. Beaulieu is a participant in centre's mentoring program led by Ichim. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

Last month he arrived from Toronto to be the youth centre's program co-ordinator. It's a responsibility he said he hasn't taken lightly.

"Our future depends on the youth," he said. "We want to give hope to the youth, show them there's something more than Inuvik. That's one of the problems with small towns, the hopelessness. People don't necessarily have places to express themselves artistically and creatively. We want to broaden their horizons and to take pride in their own culture."

Of course, not everyone who visits the youth centre requires serious help, but there are many who do. Ichim said he genuinely believes that in order for people to improve their lives they must be empowered to do it.

"A lot of times their role is to be a spectator," he said. "One of the things we're trying to do is break that barrier, to make the youth themselves participants."

The University of Waterloo graduate already put that philosophy into practice while living in Kitchener, Ont. He was among the original founders of The Spot, the first youth-run youth drop-in centre in the community, which offered, among other services, a free school program and food program.

"Youth made the rules and implemented them and paid rent," he said. "There was no government funding."

Working with other youth centre employees, the 30-year-old is already developing several hands-on activities for the youth, including a mentorship program where youths are trained to help run the centre. They're taught several skills, which include completing grant proposals and communication training.

"The mentorship program takes at-risk youth who have lived the social realities so they themselves can take charge of their own destiny and run places like the youth centre."

Youth centre participants are already saving up to go to Cuba in May. They will be responsible for raising that money. They've also started to run pool tournaments every Saturday as well as an on-the-land movie-making program.

The centre also holds a media literacy evening where kids can show up to watch movies and then have a critical discussion about them afterwards.

"It's easy to criminalize a large cross section of the youth. It's much harder to come up with meaningful programs that stimulate them," he said.

Ichim said moving to Inuvik seemed like a natural progression in his life, which he's devoted to helping the underprivileged.

"I've always been interested in coming up North to see the social realities and to get a better sense of the real Canadian reality," he said.

Preston Beaulieu, 17, is a participant of the centre's mentoring program led by Ichim. After years of alcohol abuse, he made an effort to turn his life around a few months ago. He worked as a labourer from last May to October, until he was laid off for the winter. Now he's training to be a leader at the centre.

"In the past, I had a big problem with alcohol and drugs," he said. "It was causing so much trouble in my life and I don't want that happening to other people."

He said so far he's enjoying the chance to work with Ichim.

"He's just really good at the job," said Beaulieu. "He's a really good guy. He knows what's good for the town and for the youth. Kids trust him."