Young people make pitch for city investment in Penticton youth centre

PENTICTON – A new youth centre for Penticton could soon be a reality.

Community Foundation executive director Aaron McRann and an entourage of Penticton youth from the Youth Engagement Strategy made a pitch to city council today, Nov. 7, for an investment in the purchase of a building located at 501 Main St.

The delegation asked council for a $400,000 contribution to help purchase the property.

The Community Foundation presently has an offer on the building and expects to take possession in January 2018.

The 21,000 square foot building will house a new youth centre for the approximately 4,000 young people in the city. McRann said he expects the building will also house other tenants.

McRann asked council to invest in the city’s youth.

“Young people are our future, now is the time to show it,” he said.

Coun. Judy Sentes made a motion to have staff look into the request and return to council with more information in time for a decision in early December.


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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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