More than a youth centre
I am one of the former staff members of Powell River Youth Resource Centre (YRC) who lost their job after the YRC closed. As stated in a recent viewpoint, the centre was a refuge for youth having a difficult time at home, but it was much more than that [“Centre for youth is a treasure to keep,” February 13].
People often ask what type of youth went to the YRC. We served struggling youth, thriving youth, and youth who were plodding along and needed a safe space to hang out with their friends. We served young people who were bullies, young people being bullied, and young people who wanted to get more information about issues they can’t talk about with other adults in their lives, if they are lucky enough to have such an adult. We served young people who were sober, those who were struggling with addictions of their own, or of their friends or family members, and provided a link to other community services.
It was easy. If you needed help, go to the YRC. The workers could tell you where to go, or talk to you themselves if you were not ready to take the next step.
As Rhiannon Tully-Barr’s viewpoint exemplifies, the YRC was also instrumental in creating community leaders. We provided safety, support, opportunities for growth and chances to volunteer.
I am not in a position to speak to what the future holds for the YRC, since I am no longer under its employ. My intent is to create understanding of what the service meant to our youth, their families and our community as a whole. It is clear from both the public outcry and the support our young people are receiving from the community in the wake of this devastating news that the YRC is a valued service. I hope that if our community is able to develop a new YRC, it will be as effective as the old one.
Kirstin Whitford
Stager Road
Library site again
City of Powell River Councillor Chris McNaughton and the Willingdon Watch group are proposing the old Brick building as the location for our new Powell River Public Library [“Library seeks advice,” January 30]. It seems like a dream come true: a large space, central location, lots of parking, on the bus route, accessible to people with mobility challenges and green advantages too. But why wasn’t it suggested before now?
First, it wasn’t available when the library board presented council with its site analysis of 18 locations and the city chose the old arena site at Willingdon. Second, it has been considered before—it was empty 20 or so years ago and the city had cost estimates prepared to upgrade it for library use. Those estimates were about equal to the cost estimates for building a new library on publicly owned land. However, back then the mall owners would only agree to a lease, which meant that after spending public money to upgrade the building, the taxpayers would not own it. Not such a good deal, I think.
We need a new library. Our present library is cramped for space and the collection is small. It does not, to me anyway, reflect well on us as a thoughtful community engaged in the world. Can we afford to build one at the Willingdon site? I’m not sure. However, I’m glad the library board is doing a feasibility report to see if this is a realistic option.
Pat Christie
Zilinsky Road
Scant chance for objectivity
Powell River Public Library board, with its dream of an oceanfront $9.5-million ($11 million if you believe City of Powell River Councillor Chris McNaughton or $24 million if you heard some guy asking questions at the end of a recent council meeting) library is going to hire a consultant to once again drive the wise citizens of Powell River bonkers [“Library seeks advice,” January 30]. These wise people are the ones who signed the largest petition in the history of Powell River.
The start-up price for this consultant is $15,000. He will announce to the great unwashed sometime in June, “Yes, the people here really do want a library on Willingdon Beach.” It is unlikely he is going to be paid $15,000 to say to the library board that has hired him, “No, this is too divisive an issue, there is no money for this project. Perhaps find another location?” Funny. No one believes that is going to happen.
How about just asking the people, all of them, or at least the voting ones, and put this debacle to rest?
Cleve Hamilton
Stittle Road
