Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to mention a happy event in my constituency which I had the pleasure of attending two weeks ago. The occasion was the presentation of $25,000 from the Royal Bank to the Junior SideDoor Program. The presentation was made by Yellowknife Royal Bank manager, Doug Nelson.
Mr. Speaker, the Junior SideDoor Program at the SideDoor Youth Centre is an everyday school program that provides between 45 and 50 Yellowknife students ages 7 to 14 with a safe place to go after school where they can relax, use the computers, work on their homework and gain life skills.
The overall intent of the program is to keep children in school. The $25,000 from the Royal Bank is a very important part of the funding which allows the SideDoor to provide this service to our young people. This is the third year that the Royal Bank has funded this Junior Side Door through its after school grants program.
In all, the bank has now provided the Junior SideDoor Program with over $100,000. Al Reid is the coordinator of the Junior SideDoor and his assistant is Twilla Bulieau Bachon, a grade 10 student from Sir John Franklin High School. Al says the centre would like to provide more structured programs and provide more help with homework to the youth who come to the centre for two or three hours after school each day.
However, in order to do this, they need volunteers to help because they do not have a sufficient staff. In fact, the SideDoor needs volunteers in all parts of its programming, Mr. Speaker, and I urge anyone who has an interest in our young people to consider contacting the SideDoor to see how they could help out and to contact director Kevin Laframboise.
The Royal Bank's financial support to the Junior SideDoor Program is very much appreciated, Mr. Speaker, and the staff of the SideDoor are certainly to be commended for their great work. It is a great contribution that is being made by one of our businesses towards one of our very important social contribution areas in our community, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
-- Applause