Youth Centre In Battlefords Back By Popular Demand

Friday, November 21, 2008 at 14:59

A favourite hangout for Aboriginal youth in the Battlefords will be back up and running this Tuesday — at least on a temporary basis.

That’s because several groups came together in a public meeting yesterday to make that happen.

The Mix, a hangout especially popular with youth in their late teens, has been closed due to a funding and staff shortage.

But yesterday, a group called Concern For Youth agreed to find a co-ordinator to run it for at least a couple of months.

Catholic Family Services and the Battlefords Indian and Metis Friendship Centre will also help out.

That will give organizers time to work out a permanent solution.

Concern For Youth chairperson Shauna Welter says The Mix fills an important need.

Welter says it has a positive atmosphere, and offers recreation activities and the teaching of life skills.

She also says the youth have identified it as a place where they feel safe.

As well, Welter says some young people have even stated it has changed them, because they’ve been able to go there instead of engaging in “not so positive” activities.

Sixteen-year-old Braiden Baptiste is happy that a solution to keep The Mix open has been worked out.

Baptiste is hoping it will offer cooking classes, because he wants to be a chef some day.

It is hoped The Mix can be operating permanently by mid-January.