Conservative MLA Kelly Bindle dropped by the Boys & Girls Club of Thompson Nov. 14 to declare that the provincial government is making a substantial investment into the organization’s Youth Build program.
“It is my pleasure to announce that … the Manitoba government is providing an investment of $200,000 into the Youth Build program to help youth gain academic credits and develop the skills and confidence that they need to achieve their true potential,” said Bindle.
Since 2002, the local Youth Build program has helped 363 young adults find steady employment through supplying training in construction and carpentry. This involves four weeks of orientation and 22 weeks of classroom-based learning, followed by 11 weeks of carpentry instruction and 13 weeks of paid work placement.
With this latest $200,000 grant, Bindle said the Manitoba government is sending a clear message about its commitment to helping northerners succeed.
“This initiative aligns with our Look North report action plan to engage youth in the community in learning, in training and being involved in our local economy,” he said, referring to the government’s strategic document that they are going to use to try and revitalize Northern Manitoba’s economy.
As a former board member of the Boys & Girls Club of Thompson, school board trustee Janet Brady was also on hand for Tuesday’s announcement. She reminded everyone that the Boys & Girls Club of Canada is considering Thompson’s Youth Build program as a best practice model after conducting a peer review.
“This means that similar programs in Canada will be looking to our Youth Build program as an example of how to do it well and how to do it right,” said Brady. “This is quite an acknowledgement and indeed a compliment.”
In addition to this grant, Bindle also mentioned that the province recently approved a $12,000 grant for the Boys & Girls Club of Thompson that will be used to improve their accessibility standards.
The organization’s executive director Regina DaSilva-Gibbons closed out this press conference by admitting that Youth Build is a “monster program” that wouldn’t be able to operate without support from its staff, the School District of Mystery Lake, and the provincial and federal government.
“It’s not easy, and it’s a lot of money. But at the end of the day, we’re providing what can be the best steps to the rest of our individuals’ lives.”
