$1M donation for police youth centre

A centre that provides programs and helps give youths the skills to make safe and informed decisions got a boost Wednesday in the form of a $1-million cheque from Encana.

The funds will help YouthLink Calgary Police Interpretive Centre — which offers exhibits and resources to school groups on issues such as bullying, drugs, gangs and domestic violence — in their move to a larger space in a bid to reach more kids.

“It will increase the kids we impact, we’ll be able to increase the depth of the issues and how we go and deal with those issues,” said Janet Pieschel, executive director of YouthLink Calgary.

The centre was established 17 years ago and is currently in a downtown facility, which sees about 10,000 kids per year.

YouthLink’s $8-million expansion will see the centre move to a new facility at the Calgary Police Service’s Westwinds campus, which includes a 1,000-squarefoot space for travelling exhibits, in the hopes of being able to reach more than 25,000 kids per year.

“We’ll be able to use technology, talking to kids in their own language, and make it experiential so that it’s very authentic, and impart strategies for kids so they know how to deal with these issues,” Pieschel said.

Calgary Police Chief Rick Hanson said he hopes the centre can keep growing to help equip children with the skills to better address the challenges they face.

As an example, most children are offered drugs by the time they reach Grade 8, he said. Early education is key to preventing children from getting in trouble with the law.

“A bad decision can all of a sudden put them in a situation they can’t get out of,” he said. “This is one of many steps that will help provide that kind of guidance for kids.”

Completion is expected in 2014.