Dawson City youth centre 'desperate' for new building, says youth co-ordinator

Tr'ondek Hwech'inYouth Centre is getting desperate for a new building.

The local youth centre on Second Avenue in Dawson City, Yukon, has been closed since August 2016, after it was condemned for asbestos.

"It's been a little bit challenging," said GwynethWilliams, youth co-ordinator for the centre.

For the last two years the youth centre has been renting spaces around town to continue programing. However, Williams said the spaces are "hard to find and quite small."

For the last year, the youth centre has been run out of a one-room building onFront Street.

Williams said, atthe old location, they would see about 25 youth drop by the centre every day.With the lack of space in their current location, she said they now only see between sixand 10 youth a day.

"We are pretty desperate.We need more youth to come and start accessing the facilities," said Williams.

The youth centre is run by the Tr'ondekHwech'in, but is open toall youth inDawson City. The facility, open six days a week, works as a drop-in centre for youth aged 12 to 18.

It runs after-school programing includingpottery classes, on-the-land activities, camping trips, and cultural activities like hand games. It also hastwo on-call support workers at all times.

"It's really a space for youth to feel comfortable and safe," said Williams.

The youth centre said it will cost $1 million to build a new facility. There are two options being considered:keeping the log cabin structure of the old building and refurbishing the inside,or tearing down the current structure and building a whole new facility on the land.

Currently, Tr'ondekHwech'in has been given $69,000 from the Yukon government's Community Development Fund. This will cover cost of architectural and mechanical designs of the new building, according to Williams.

The Tr'ondekHwech'inYouth Centre would like the new facility to include a homework station with computers, a conference room, an area for art and music projects, a quiet room,and a kitchen.

They are also hoping for an outdoor area with a fire pit and gardening boxes.

"We are trying our best to get the building up as soon as possible," Williams said.

She said they are looking at other funding options like grants for capital assets. They have alsobeen promised fundingfrom the Yukon government for the new building in 2021.

"We are hoping and looking to get more funds quicker," said Williams.

As of right now,no date has been set for the construction of a new building.