Full text of Don Robb's statement

The following is the continuation of Don Robb's statement on Monday on behlaf of the Sault Ste. Marie Teen Centre:

**************************** Board meeting last week

The Board met last week to review the finances and decided that we could not continue without further influx of money from consistent sources immediately.

We want to be fiscally responsible and make sure that if we close we are able to pay all bills and cover all closing costs.

The decision was made by the Board of Directors that the time had come to make the decision to close as of June 30th unless ample long-term funding became available.

We will continue to offer our summer recreation program because these programs are self-sustaining by money that is presently accounted for through sponsorship and the numbers of children ages 5 to 12 that will attend.

This means the Summer Recreation Program only will run during July and August, no teen programming will exist. One of Ontario's best

For all of us on the Board of Directors it is a sad day.

Just recently, staff and teens attended a province-wide teen centre forum and returned to town with the same news we have heard for years.

Program wise, we operate one of the best, if not the very best, Teen Centre in the province.

We have done so on a shoestring budget because we have staff and volunteers who care.

The major difference in our scenario and the scenario of other centres, is they receive funding to maintain their programs through their city or sponsorship of a local service club.

A sad day

This is why it is a sad day.

The youth of this community need a place to call their own.

A place where they can feel needed, have a warm meal if needed, get help with life's problems if needed, socialize together, learn together, and have fun together in a well supervised environment with rules and consequences.

Our youth respect our Centre.

They always have, because it is a place for them.

Our youth have taken leadership roles in community efforts to demonstrate their citizenship and appreciation.

They conduct their own fundraising to support their programs.

'We have made mistakes'

Over the years we have been a placement centre for 40 or more young adults working on their Child and Youth Worker Certificates from Sault College and Social Worker Degrees from Algoma University.

We have been the initial job for many young adults seeking employment, who utilize the skills they have learned here to move on to new careers that allow them to earn a living. In conclusion, let me say as a board member for the last 11 years, we have made mistakes, we have not always made the correct choices for the direction of this Centre, but always the members of this Board, and the Staff we have hired, have given the youth of this community a better and safer place to meet and relate.

'Sorry we couldn't hold it together for our youth'

We want to say to all of you that we are sorry we couldn't hold it together for our youth.

We want to say that when our doors close, only then may we all realize what a wonderful opportunity we have lost.

We thank those of you in the community who have attempted to support us and we hope that somehow something will happen that may allow this centre to continue and not cause the doors to be closed on June 30th.

Thank you's

1. Trillium Foundation - Doug Lawson 2. Ontario Works (National Child Benefit Supplement) - Dree Pauze 3. HRDC - Mr. Tong 4. Naadmaadwiiuk (North Shore Tribal Council) - Debbie Mayer 5. Metis Nation of Ontario - Tammy Webb 6. Indian Friendship Centre - Laurie Perreault 7. Huron Superior District Catholic School Board - John Stadnyk & Steve Brown

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