The Community Building Youth Futures (CBYF) Members Retreat was held at Plaza 88. (Submitted photo)

By Nigel Maxwell

Empowering youth

National retreat in Prince Albert addresses challenges facing youth

May 11, 2023 | 12:59 PM

Youth and young adults from across the country have gathered in Prince Albert, and as a group are talking about ways to not only increase graduation rates, but also break down barriers that may be associated with accessing employment or health care supports.

The Community Building Youth Futures (CBYF) Members Retreat was designed and funded by the Tamarack Institute through the Government of Canada.There’s 19 CBYF locations across the country. Director Nathalie Blanchet said the goal of the retreat is to identify what individual barriers and challenges young people are facing.

“And together you say what’s our vision for youth in our community, how do we get there, and how do we create innovate practices to get us there,” she said.

Citing past success stories, Blanchet explained there was an idea developed in Portage, MB., for a roving campus. From discussion at a retreat, the idea was later implemented in a separate part of the country.

“And so with this event, we hope to learn together,” she said.

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Among the discussion topics covered this week were how to access support services, identity and social connections, holistic health, accessing education, and employment mentorship.

An example of one of the discussion boards. (Submitted photo)

Angelina Pelletier also works at Tamarack and explained they are on a learning journey, and are being guided by patterns emerging in communities across the country, regardless of whether they are located in a province or territory.

“What opportunities are surfacing to the top, what supports or needs are being highlighted through these conversations,” she said, adding the goal too is of course what role Tamarack can play in the solutions.

While the conference is mainly geared for people between the ages of 15 and 30, there’s also some younger teens present as well and Pelletier acknowledged they are learning too.

“We are seeing the need I think to start these conversations before they are turning 15,” she said.

Noting the communities represented all range from small to medium, Pelletier said the conference shows the power of small communities and how they can work collaboratively together.

Prince Albert’s Ananda Nelson, is attending the conference, and feels it’s very helpful being surrounded by people her own age.

“And being free and open to express ourselves and feel confident in what we say and what we share,” she said.

Alvina Merasty and Aaliyah Flett, also from Prince Albert, are engaged in a special reconciliation project which involves going to local businesses and seeing what policies are in place.

“And just like getting their perspective and getting their opinions and why is reconciliation so hard to talk about,” Flett said.

Flett added Prince Albert may be small compared to other communities in attendance, but it doesn’t mean we have nothing to say.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell