VIDEO: Years in the making, Algoma Youth Wellness Hub here to help

An idea years in the making is officially a reality.

On Monday, the ribbon was cut on the new Algoma Youth Wellness Hub on Dennis Street — a facility dedicated to helping local young people who need support.

Designed for people between the ages of 12 and 25, the downtown wellness hub is a place for young people to connect with others, seek help for mental health and addictions issues, or simply hang out. 

Housed at the former Odd Fellows Hall, the newly renovated building boasts couches, video games, job boards, computers, showers and laundry machines. In time, the hub also hopes to have a fully operational commercial kitchen where young people can learn the food-service business.

A partnership of many local organizations, the hub's lead agency is Algoma Family Services. After the grand opening, CEO Ali Juma and Arwen Cooke, a member of the hub's Youth Advisory Council, stopped by our SooToday studio to talk more about the new facility.

You can read more about the hub on their official website.