Bathurst Youth Centre in need of repairs

Management of the Bathurst Youth Centre (BYC) is looking to the community for support in raising close to $100,000 for repairs to its building. The centre operates year-round, offering programs for youth who may not have anywhere else to go.

"This place gave me direction, gave me a place to call my own, and it took me in when basically nobody else would," said former youth centre volunteer Marc Lavigne.

This place gave me direction … took me in when basically nobody else would.- Marc Lavigne, former BYC volunteer

Lavigne went on to join the Armed Forces. Now a veteran, he has returned to Bathurst and works at the centre as a youth coordinator. He says he would not be on the same path if it weren't for the programs at BYC. 

The centre facilitates after-school programming such as employment workshops, art lessons and judo classes. The building is also rented out as a hall for extra income. Many programs at the Bathurst Youth Centre are funded by federal and provincial governments.

The building housing the centre was abandoned until the late 1990s. Founder Josh Ouellette discovered the venue over 20 years ago, while working as a policeman.

"One night we got a call, my partner and I, of somebody breaking into this building. At the time, it was boarded up and just an abandoned building," he said.

"There was a kid sitting in the middle of this floor, warming up … so we decided that we would make this a youth centre and got together with the chief of police, the mayor at the time — everybody supported the idea."

Ouellette has been instrumental in the creation and execution of the centre's programs. BYC now employs outreach workers, youth coordinators and a director.

Bathurst's women's shelter and homeless shelter are also coordinated through BYC.

Ouellette is counting on community donations to fund renovations needed at the centre. The people of Bathurst been generous in funding past programs. He says perhaps it's time for graduates of the centre's activities to get involved.

"Hopefully, it'll get across to these kids who are now bankers or lawyers and say 'hey, maybe we should send 20 bucks or 30 bucks or 100 bucks to help the people that helped me out when I was a rotten teenager," he laughs. 

While the centre's needs aren't dire, Ouellette says repairs are needed to get through the winter comfortably.

"That includes the new heating system, also the roof that needs to be repaired. Those are the main things. We're looking at new kitchen utensils too."

The centre sells cheap meals to students from the neighbouring high school, and puts the money back into programming. Other fundraisers include a Christmas craft fair and an annual Canada Day barbecue. 

"We're going to do it. I don't care if I have to sell hot dogs or hamburgers for the rest of my life," said Ouellette.