Youth Club signs lease agreement with town

Posted on: Staff Writer

Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter
 
After the unexpected tragic death of Strathmore teen Jonathan Herrmann, a community outcry was made to town officials to re-open the Strathmore Youth Centre and allow programming for all of Strathmore’s youth to become available. 
With the support of the Western Regional office of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada, the Strathmore Advisory Committee created the Youth Club of Strathmore. 
After the June 15 Town Council meeting, a lease agreement has been signed between the Town and the Youth Club of Strathmore. Work has already begun to tidy up the youth centre to prepare for future programming.
“We believe the youth of Strathmore need a safe place to engage in healthy activities that will help them develop, and fulfill their potential. We are dedicated to helping make that happen,” said Karen MacDonald, Executive Director, Boys and Girls Club of Airdrie, in a press release.  
“The Youth Club of Strathmore is going to need the support of local residents, businesses and funders to assist with the start-up and ongoing operating costs of the youth centre, so that the community can prevent another tragic death like Jonathan’s from ever happening again.”
The Boys and Girls Club of Airdrie-Strathmore Club hadve been part of Strathmore since 2010, providing after-school, leadership and summer programs to children six-years-old to 13-years-old under the governance of the Airdrie club. 
The Strathmore club came to town at the request of citizens who were concerned about the lack of structured programs available to children in town. 
After reviewing last year’s operations, the Boys and Girls Club of Airdrie and the Strathmore Advisory Committee determined it would be in the best interest of both parties if Strathmore were to apply as an independent BGC. 
Currently the Youth Club of Strathmore has begun the process of becoming a member organization of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada, which could take up to a year. 
In the interim the Youth Club of Strathmore will begin providing programs at the youth centre, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada and Boys and Girls Club of Airdrie will continue to work with them. When all of the requirements have been met and approved by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada, the Youth Club will then be able to legally operate as the Boys and Girls Club of Strathmore.