June 11, 2001

Fifteen inner-city youth will train as recreational activity workers under a new initiative of Neighbourhoods Alive!, which is investing $422,175 in nine Winnipeg programs in the areas of employment training, recreation, urban renewal and programs for youth at risk.

Today's announcement was made by Culture, Heritage and Tourism Minister Ron Lemieux and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Jean Friesen at the Freighthouse, an inner-city community centre and one of the locations for the practical component of the Youth Recreation Activity Worker program.

"Developing leadership in our youth is an investment in our neighbourhoods and our future," said Lemieux. "We know leadership is critical to the success of recreation programs, and recreation programs help keep our neighbourhoods healthy. This program will develop those unique and important areas of learning to provide skills in health and wellness, child and adolescent development, programming and youth care."

"A key feature of Neighbourhoods Alive! is its commitment to supporting programs and ideas that come from the community," added Friesen, who is also the minister responsible for Neighbourhoods Alive!. "This training program is unique because it will train inner-city youth for jobs that, in turn, will enable them to work with other young Winnipeggers from their communities."

The 31-week Youth Recreation Activity Worker certificate program will train 15 inner-city youth between the ages of 18 and 24. The curriculum includes three core components: life skills, academic courses and practical recreation facilities skills. It will also cover a wide range of training including non-violent crisis intervention and basic writing competencies. The program, which is receiving $180,000 from Neighbourhoods Alive!, has been developed in partnership with Red River College (RRC), Human Resource Development Canada and the Winnipeg Boys and Girls Club (WBGC).

Graduates who complete both the theoretical and practicum requirements will receive formal certificates from RRC and will have course credits for the Child and Youth Care diploma program. Graduates are expected to be in demand and find employment with up to 30 Winnipeg organizations that provide recreational programming to inner-city youth.

Other programs receiving funding today include:

• Aboriginal Youth Cultural Learning Program ($66,700)
• Spence Community Connection Project ($13,775)
• Community Youth Drop-in Project ($25,000)
• Neighbourhood Organizing and Planning ($32,000)
• Storefront Revitalization ($20,000)
• Niji Mahkwa School Playground ($35,000)
• Spence Neighbourhood Association Plan ($29,700)
• Turtle Island Drop-in Centre ($20,000)

Neighbourhoods Alive is a long-term social and economic development strategy that supports and encourages community-driven revitalization efforts in specific neighbourhoods in Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson. The program is designed to work with residents, community groups, schools, churches, business and other community organizations to support the revitalization of neighbourhoods. Key areas of focus include housing and physical improvements, employment, training, education and recreation, and community safety and crime prevention.

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION.

Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata is receiving $66,700 to initiate a project which would employ a co-ordinator and outreach worker to deliver teaching about Aboriginal culture to at-risk youth. Many of the potential participants have already been identified as young people from 16 to 29 who are not currently in school and have identified themselves as gang-involved or have been identified as at-risk of such involvement. Experiential learning such as participation in ceremonies including sweatlodges and sundances would be emphasized.

Spence Community Connection Project

A provincial contribution of up to $13,775 will be provided to provide part-time staff support to the Spence Neighbourhood Association to enhance its community capacity building and neighbourhood renewal process. The main objectives of the part-time staff would be to support the initial period of community participation in the development of the neighbourhood plan, aiding local organizations and community members in developing their projects, proposals and partnerships, and facilitation among groups.

A provincial contribution of up to $25,000 over two years will be provided for the Community Youth Drop-in Project to extend the hours of operation of the program. Sessions will run Monday to Friday from 6 to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 1 to 10 p.m. To extend the hours, a part-time evening program co-ordinator and two part-time youth outreach workers will be hired and the paid instruction of professional artists will be extended to evenings and Saturdays.

Neighbourhood Organizing and Planning

The province will contribute up to $32,000 for a community planning process in the North End of Winnipeg, with particular emphasis on North Point Douglas, William Whyte and Lord Selkirk Park neighbourhoods. A board of directors for the North End Community Renewal Corporation will be established with representatives from various sectors of the North End community including local residents, community service providers, religious organizations, business and labour. The NECRC board will be involved in the development, review and monitoring of the progress of the North End Community Renewal Plan through monthly meetings. Communication with the larger North End Winnipeg community will be accomplished through bi-monthly community newsletters.

A contribution of up to $20,000 will fund a study to determine the feasibility of a community economic development project that will focus on a store front retail operation marketing local crafts such as Northern Collection star blankets and other items and a pre-employment training program. The study will determine the state of the buildings to be renovated, the feasibility of the training program and business ideas, and the level of interest in the project in the surrounding community through a community survey.

A provincial contribution of up to $35,000.00 will be provided to construct a new play structure at Niji Mahkwa School, located in Dufferin neighbourhood, for children aged five to 12. This play structure would serve 250 students who attend Niji Mahkwa School, 75 per cent of whom are from the William Whyte and Lord Selkirk neighbourhoods as well as local children attending Boys and Girls Club programming at the site.

Up to $29,700 will be provided for the completion of a comprehensive housing strategy in the Spence neighbourhood and the co-ordination of project implementation. The planning process for housing will include developing work plans and time lines for a number of activities in various stages of implementation. Methods of evaluating success in the implementation of projects will be developed.

A provincial contribution of up to $20,000 will be provided to develop a drop-in centre that promotes ‘stay-in-school’, cultural and recreational programming. The centre will arrange for speakers, guidance, life skills training and field trips. The costs of the program include transportation, administration and nutrition programming. The centre will contract a transportation service to take children to and from field trips.