Westbank First nation youth centre to open next year

WEST KELOWNA – Aborignal youth will soon be moving into a veritable palace of a youth centre, at least compared to what they now have.

“It’s 2,100 square feet, far too small to accommodate our needs, it’s second hand purchased in 1998,” Chief Robert Louie says, of the current facility located in a modular building beside the WFN health and wellness centre.

The Westbank Nation chief made the comment during a "ground-blessing ceremony” at the site of the new facility off East Boundary Road today, Aug. 24.

Louie says the $6-million building will be complete by fall 2016 and provide an expanded opportunity for programming the current centre can’t accommodate.

“The usage has exceeded capacity. The new centre will meet the needs of a growing, healthy active community. We value our youth. They are our future,” the chief added.

Louie singled out some features as unique to the new centre including a learning garden, outdoor classroom and an environmentall friendly heating and cooling system.

“This is set to be a world class facility and I’m excited for the opportunity it will provide to our youth and to the region as a whole.”

In addition to the youth centre, the band is constructing a sports court the size of three regular basketball courts.

It is expected to be complete July, 2017.

To contact the reporter for this story, email John McDonald at jmcdonald@infonews.ca or call 250-808-0143. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.