Inuvik's youth centre to stay closed until end of August

The Inuvik Youth Centre will remain closed until late August due to financial constraints. The centre closed its doors in March and stopped its programming.

Alyssa Carpenter, the chair of the Inuvik Youth Centre Society, said the board is securing funding for the fall season and she anticipates that the centre will stay open after that without needing to close again.

"We didn't have the funding to operate, and when we made that closure, we missed the deadline for some important funding, unfortunately," said Carpenter.

"I don't think we are the only youth centre to experience challenges like that."

Carpenter said the centre is focusing on the fall season and working toward staying open at that point.

"The board is made of volunteers — it is a small board of parents, aunts, grandparents who care for the community," she said.

Fundraisers are also being planned to help with the reopening in the fall.

During the summer months, the centre is letting another local organization use its space. The Children's First Centre is undergoing renovations, so the space is being used for day care and Town of Inuvik summer camp programming.

The centre is also hoping to recruit community members who will volunteer to teach youth skills or activities this fall and winter.

"Once activities are in motion, I think it's always great to have a sense of those who want to put on workshops and teach at the youth centre," said Carpenter.

"We are really willing to hear and work with that, so the centre can offer that back to the community."