Sault Teen Centre loses half its staff

The Sault Ste. Marie Teen Centre lost half its staff on Monday, SooToday.com has learned.

Susan Kostanowicz, executive director of the troubled institution, told us tonight that four full-time employees were laid off on Monday.

The departing staffers consisted of three event and programming planners and a co-ordinator, Kostanowicz said.

The four had worked at the Teen Centre since June of last year under Human Resources Development Canada grants that expired this week.

"We'll probably have a reduction in our operating hours," Kostanowicz told SooToday News.

On Monday night, the Teen Centre presented City Council with a business plan requesting immediate bridge financing of $20,000, plus annual City contributions of $140,000.

The request for immediate funding was denied, but both requests will be considered during Council's budget deliberations next month.

Council was told Monday that layoffs had occurred at the Teen Centre, but was not advised of the numbers.