The Squamish Youth Resource Centre had a lot to celebrate on Saturday (June 26).
A public open house and barbecue celebrated the facility's 10th anniversary but organizers were also celebrating another milestone - the centre has reached it fundraising goal to pay for the conversion of an old garage into a new music room.
"We're pleased to announce Squamish Savings gave $2,500 and the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation gave us $7,000 to insulate the garage," said community program co-ordinator Renee Theoret.
Resource Centre employees and the facility's director Kathy Daniels have spent the last eight months fundraising for the youth music space but, as Theoret pointed out, they aren't done just yet.
"After that we'll need instruments, so we're not done. We're still fundraising a little bit for it but hopefully in six months we'll have a music room."
Theoret said the youth who use the centre have been asking for a music room for a while, so they are very happy to hear a new studio space should be opening soon.
"We're all very happy," Theoret beamed.
But the Squamish Youth Resource Centre offers more than just a place to play music. The free drop-in centre is a safe, non-judgmental space for youth between the ages of 13 and 18 to hang out, meet friends and develop life skills.
Any person under the age of 19 who needs anything from a shower and interview clothes to help with a job application or finding an apartment can find what they need at the centre.
"We've got programming here for all kids so even if a child is not experiencing any risky situations, or abuse or they're experiencing a nice life, there's still stuff for them to get involved with here," said Daniels.
"There's clubs, activities and outings. There's something for everybody, from every walk of life here."
Young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 can access the resource centre but they can't participate in any of the programs like the field trips.
Since the facility is open seven days a week, from 3 to 9 p.m., youth can drop by the centre any night of the week and find plenty of free activities to enjoy including board games, expressive art, photography, horticulture, and even sports and outdoor education.
Teens can also contribute art, poems or short stories to be published in a zine called The Centre of Youth, created by and for local youth.
"It's a chance for them to have a voice in town. They can complain about anything," Theoret said.
"They draw and write so much at that age."
Every year, the centre hosts several informative workshops aimed at empowering youth to become productive community members.
"We are preparing these young people to become young adults and function and be helpful to build their own society in the future and be a part of the community here," Daniels said.
As a 13-year-old, Tyrell Taylor started coming to the centre because he was bored.
"Usually I'd just sit around."
But the friends he made and the activities he participated in ensured his return.
"It gives you a place to ignore the things that are troubling, or at least distract you, or put you on a better course of thinking in a positive way about things."
Taylor said the centre helped him in many different capacities.
"Just whenever I needed a resource like a phone number for a place, or a job interview or making applications I would come here for help."
"It's pretty good here."
The centre is so good, Taylor is thinking of becoming a professional youth resource worker himself.
The 18-year-old Grade 12 student is currently employed at the centre as a student youth resource worker who helps with every aspect of the facility other than providing one and one discussions.
Having secured funding for a music room and the open house behind them, all of the youth resource workers and some of the 150 youth who use the facility on a regular basis annually are getting down to planning the largest event of the year, Youth Fest.
The huge fundraiser is scheduled for late August or early Sept.
"So this is when I'm expecting a lot of youth in town, bands, music, dunk tanks, fundraising and things like that," said Theoret.
The details for Youth Fest have yet to be determined, but Theoret said she's working on having it downtown where the youth and community can intermingle.
Over the next decade, Daniels and Theoret agreed they like to enhance some of the services the centre can provide. Both expressed a strong desire for turning the Youth Resource Centre into a hub facility that would expand into a newer building and could provide emergency shelter to youth in need.
Currently the nearest emergency youth shelter beds are located in North Vancouver, which Daniels says unacceptable.
"That means taking a youth out of this town, away from all his supports, away from school, away from his job in order for them to be safe.
"If we had emergency beds, even a couple, that would be really, really good."
Theoret said she'd like to move the facility closer to the centre of town, near Brennan Park where youth from across the district could access the recreational facilities.
"And maybe one time, it would be really cool if we had our own green house too," Daniels added.
For more information on the Youth Resource Centre or to find out how you can help call Theoret at 604-892-2207 or drop by the centre located at 1135 Carson Place.
