New Ideas Brewing for Fenelon Youth Program

Carly Veitch (left), Manager of Youth and Support Services and Amy Terril (right), Executive Director, BGC Kawarthas, with Jim Armstrong, Chair, Kawartha Works Community Co-op.

The BGC youth program in Fenelon Falls, a joint initiative with Kawartha Works Community Co-op, is taking a break for the summer but behind the scenes exciting plans continue. Members of the Committee met on July 3 to review the how things had gone since the launch in February, and to discuss ongoing plans. The consensus was that everyone was “really happy” so far. There was a steady average attendance of about fifteen on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school. The program is now called The Loft, a name chosen by the youth.

The program is still in its beginning stages so there is much to be done — scouting for a long- term location, additional staffing, creating potential music and arts components, nurturing relationships with schools, building a high school presence, and more. Thanks to ongoing community fundraising, and a supportive grant from the City, financial resources are meeting current needs.

At the BGC Kawartha AGM on June 23, Jim Armstrong was presented with a plaque recognizing his leadership and partnership role as Chair of the Kawartha Co-op in launching the program in Fenelon Falls.