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F O C IIS Jr W Official Media Sponsor Editor: Wilma Blokhuis Phone: 905-845-3824 (ext. 250) Fax: 905-337-5567 e-mail: blokhuis@haltonsearch.com W l I )N I :SI )A Y. I'K B R l A K Y 2 0 . 2 < X B · I \ \ £ c C l Y o u th c e n t r e m a r k s f ir s t a n n iv e r s a r y It is thanks to many local support ers including St. John's United Church, the Rotary Club of Oakville, the Town of Oakville, the United Way Happy birthday to the Oakville of Oakville and St. Jude's Anglican Youth Development Centre (O Y D C ). It is exactly a year ago this week that Church that the Centre has accom the Centre opened its doors to the plished much in its first year. Young feels their greatest achieve town's youth. ment thus far is the Centre's climbing In celebration, the Centre w ill be holding an open house this Friday attendance record. " The first month or so we were from 3 - 1 1 p.m. Invitations to the event have been sent out to local open we averaged about five youths a charities, churches. Town council and day. Now we are seeing around 30 to 40 a day," Young recalls. "W e hope to the mayor. However, Tyler Young, program see that trend continue." It is really no wonder more and co-ordinator of the O YD C , wants the more teens are catching on to an public to know it is an open invita evening out at the Centre. They can tion. " The celebration is totally open to play free pool, watch videos on a big the public. Anyone who wants to find screen T.V., surf the net and even play X-box. out what we are all about is welcome Youths who frequent the Centre to come by." Young says. So what is this centre all about? come to kick back with their peers or as Young's motto goes 'hang out Its mandate is 'for youth by youth' without being kicked out'. and Young works hard " It is a great break to stay true to that con " Personally, I feel any from parents, yet there is cept. "Personally, I feel youth initiative has to supervision here," says Kate Demolli. a regular at any youth initiative be youth driven. the Centre. has to be youth driv Everything we do here " My parents love it too en." he says. because it is free enter " Everything we do is youth based; they tainment." here is youth based: drive it and I facilitate Young plans to make they drive it and I the Centre more than just facilitate it to make it it to make it happen." a social outlet for youths. happen." · Tyler Young, He hopes to introduce It is with that com program coordinator. tutoring, counselling and bined effort that the Oakville Youth homework programs. As Centre has seen sever Development Centre well, he would like to see al successful events in the Centre extend its oper its first year. Some of ating hours. these events have included a car wash These initiatives w ill, of course, fundraiser, an open mike night and depend on continued support from the monthly pool tournaments. Jennifer McDonald, the Centre's community and developing partner Program Assistant, believes it is ships. For now. Young's goals are simply events like these that make the Centre so important to O akville's teenaged to let the Centre's existence be well known throughout the community. population. And what better way to spread the " I feel that the Centre gives youth word than to throw a party. in the area a great social outlet and The O Y D C is located on 177 provides opportunity to interact with other youth within the community." Cross Ave. across from the GO Train station. It is open to youths aged 13 to McDonald says. 18 on Fridays and Saturdays from 3 Challenges for the O Y D C have, 11 p.m. for the most part, been financial. For more information about the Currently, they are operating with a three-year window to make the Centre or its upcoming events call Development Centre initiative a suc 905-845-6932 or visit its Web site at www.oakvtlleyouth.ca. cessful one. By Jaime Burnham S P E C IA L T O T H E B R A V E R Michelle Burnham · Special to the Beaver Hanging out at the O akville Youth Development Centre (from left) are M ike Birchall. Natasha Bailey, and Chris Stewart, and hack from left, Daniel Ferreira, M arina Horst, and Kate Demolli. Playing pool (below) are C hris Stewart, and Ew elina Potyranski. In the background, watching from the corner, is Tyler Young, program coordina tor, and Ryan Harismovvich, seated. For Food, Fun and Fashion All for a worthwhile cause Tuesday, A pril 1, 2003 at 6:30 p.m. I 'f t , t h f f , S h r t j i - The Walk-In. T h e h o m e is t h e h e a r t o f life . A n e v e r c h a n g in g s to r y o f o u r s e lv e s , o u r fa m ily , o u r fr ie n d s . A w e lc o m e r e tr e a t C e le b r a t e w ith a c o m m u n it y h e l p i n g f ig h t a g a in s t C a n c e r A n ig h t o f f in e c u is in e , w in e , L i v e a n d S i l e n t A u c t i o n A n d S p e c t a c u la r F a s h io n S h o w . w h e re we p r o te c t, n u rtu re and s u s ta in a ll t h a t is n e e d e d a n d lo v e d . L e t C a lif o r n ia C lo s e t s s h a r e 2 5 y e a r s ' e x p e r ie n c e w it h y o u t o c r e a t e t h e f in e s t c u s t o m s t o r a g e s o lu t io n s f o r a ll t h e a r e a s o f y o u r h o m e . L iv e t h e w a y y o u d r e a m . C a ll t o d a y f o r a c o m p lim e n t a r y c o n s u lt a t io n in y o u r h o m e . 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