Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, students in the Northern Community Leadership Program at the Aurora College Community Learning Centre in Fort Providence have taken on an interesting new project.
The Introduction to Leadership course was jointly developed by Aurora College and the NWT Literacy Council, and is being piloted this year in six communities across the territory, including Fort Providence. Students learn how to better engage with their communities, and then build on that knowledge to develop leadership skills and practices. The six-week course helps students to foster leadership qualities within themselves and how to use those qualities to make their communities a better place.
Today, I would like to share what the program participants have brought to my attention. Today, I will be sharing their views on the need for a youth centre in Fort Providence.
Mr. Speaker, the community of Fort Providence is in dire need of a youth centre. Our community has not had an activity centre for the youth since 2012, when one was run by the friendship centre. This lack has led to many youth being involved in illegal and substance abuse-related activities in the community.
Presently, the school and the friendship centre offer their programs only once or twice a week. A hundred youth were surveyed, and since Fort Providence has roughly 160 residents between the ages of 10 and 14, I would say that was a pretty good sample. These youth identified they would like an accessible space open in the evening and on weekends.
Mr. Speaker, having a youth centre would get the youth involved in recreational, life skills, and pre-employment programs. This space would foster leadership opportunities, increase the youth's self-esteem and confidence, as well as giving them a sense of responsibility and belonging. It would also promote physical activity and, in turn, all this would help to make the youth more respectable community members.
Mr. Speaker, I would encourage the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs and the Minister Responsible for Youth to support this community initiative and assist the community in making this vision come to life. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.