Wheatland Youth Network kicks off local community events
By John Watson Local Journalism initiative Reporter
As of March 4, the Wheatland Youth Network (WYN) kicked off with the first of their launch events to start helping local youth reconnect with their communities.
Michelle Ryan, a navigator with the WYN, said for the month of March the organization is working on getting their name out there and is starting to build connections.
“We’re just really getting our name out there and creating fun opportunities for young people in the community,” said Ryan. “With the WYN, we work with youth who are (ages) 11 to 24, so we have a wide range. And feedback that we’ve been getting from young people is that they just want to rebuild that sense of community and have opportunities to get to know other young people.”
The network started in 2019 and was born from a conversation in the community in which local physicians identified that young people were not seeking supports or were struggling to seek support.
Activities put on by the network are free to participate in and there is no prior registration necessary.
The first event, held on March 4, was hosted at the Strathmore Motor Products Sports Centre for Youth Night. The second, which is scheduled for March 18, will be “Flashback Friday,” also at the Motor Products Sports Centre. The third event will be a Marvel movie night at the Strathmore Municipal Library on March 25.
“For us, providing these events has been really beneficial because we’re still getting our name recognized and we’re building that relationship,” said Ryan. “When you have that relationship, the work and the support just comes a lot easier. With the integrated youth hub, we focus on supporting youth in connecting with mild to moderate wellness resources.”
The WYN will continue offering pop-up events on a regular basis for young people in the community to attend.
The entire project, Ryan explained, is a provincial initiative that was funded through the Canadian Mental Health Association and has received funding to run until March 2023.
“This really is a grassroots project that has evolved into becoming a part of the Canadian Mental Health Association Youth Hub Project,” said Ryan. “Young people, with just the throws of the past couple of years, they just want opportunities to rebuild that sense of community and just connect with each other in fun ways.”
The team is also on social media and encourages youth who are interested in participating to keep an eye on the network. On Instagram, the handle is @wheatlandyouth_network.