Ribbon Cutting by FSIN Grand Chief Bobby Cameron, Montreal Lake Chief Joyce McLeod and members of council officially open the Chief Roy H Bird Memorial Youth Centre on Wednesday afternoon. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

By Dawson Thompson

Youth Centre

Montreal Lake Cree Nation unveils new community youth centre

Aug 25, 2021 | 5:54 PM

After four years of planning and construction, chief and council of Montreal Lake Cree Nation unveiled a new community youth centre this afternoon.

Beside the school and over looking the lake, the baseball field, and the soccer field, the Chief Roy H Bird Memorial Youth Centre had its grand opening in front of a few hundred people on Aug. 25.

There are plenty of recreational items inside the youth centre including ping pong tables, foosball tables, and karaoke. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

“It took about four years for our former chief and some of our present councilors to build this place,” Chief Joyce McLeod told paNOW. “The leadership at the time made a choice to build more infrastructure and make use of the band money they got from the government.

Construction of the youth centre was about $2 million dollars.

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There are plenty of recreational things for youth to do at the centre. There are ping pong tables, an air hockey table, foosball tables, couches for them to hangout on and sing karaoke, and musical instruments as well such as guitars and a drum set.

“It was very important to have a youth centre,” McLeod said. “We want our youth to experience recreation and sports. There will be set Cree and cultural programs and traditional teachings. It wont all be about recreation here, there will be programs as well.

“We try to empower the youth. They are important in the community. We as a leadership want to do something for youth as they are very important to the community.”

The youth centre will be open in the evening after school and on weekends. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

The band is in the process of hiring youth workers. When the proper staff are hired the youth centre will be open in the evenings after school and on weekends as well.

The Federation of Sovereign First Nations (FSIN) Grand Chief Bobby Cameron says this investment is all for the little ones as they are aware they need nurturing outside of school hours.

“The best investment is in our little ones, our greatest asset is our babies,” Cameron said at the opening. “This centre will last for many decades. You put that time and effort into those children after school to show them that there is happiness in their life and there is someone there that cares for them.

“They can come and have fun, learn, and socialize here and live an alcohol- and drug-free life. We have to raise our children in that kind of environment.”

There are outdoor activities at the youth centre as well. A skatepark was built and there are bouncy castles too. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

Another similar youth centre will be opening its doors at the Little Red River Cree Nation in September.

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Dawson.thompson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @dawsonthompson8