WEYBURN – The Weyburn Youth Centre is a valuable resource for the community, and it needs to be supported so it can continue with its work, said Weyburn police chief Jamie Blunden.
He spoke briefly at the Youth Centre banquet fundraiser held on Saturday evening at Knox Hall. Mayor Marcel Roy brought greetings from the city, and members of the board shared about their reasons for volunteering to help the centre out.
A large number of silent auction items were up for bid, along with live auction items, sold by volunteer auctioneer Winston Bailey.
In his remarks, chief Blunden noted he grew up in a small community in northwestern Ontario, and they had nowhere for youth to go. A friend of his died of an overdose, then the town decided to add onto their rec centre to provide a place for the youth to hang out in.
“I can tell you the youth centre contributes to the health and well-being of the city like you wouldn’t believe, and you help by being here and supporting the youth centre. Without the youth centre, we wouldn’t have some of the kids we have today, a place to be safe and to get away from the bullying,” he said.
“It’s really important we get together as a community and support organizations like this,” added Blunden, pointing out the youth of today are tomorrow’s leaders.
