Youth Community Centre proposed for Sault Ste. Marie

Sixteen years after losing its Teen Centre, Sault Ste. Marie is looking at establishing a youth-focused community centre.

The initiative was disclosed at Monday night's City Council meeting during a quarterly update by Travis Anderson, project manager of FutureSSM.

Anderson provided few specifics but said a request for proposals is being prepared for a new community centre that will include a youth hub as well as space for creative industries and cultural groups.

"We're currently in early phases of developing that," Anderson told councillors.

"We are looking at developing a collaborative effort to develop a local centre where there could be some programming for STEAM initiatives [science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics]," he said.

The idea has been identified as a priority by a number of FutureSSM action teams, including those focused on education, energy, environment and social equity.

"It resonated with a number of our groups but with our youth engagement as well - the need to have more centres where youth can go. There's an opportunity where they could be potentially mentored, have some assistance with their homework, but also the opportunity to be exposed to new technologies for today's evolving workforce."

Round-table discussions about the initiative are currently being held with potential partners, Anderson said.

FutureSSM has declared 2020 to be Year of the Youth, and many of its initiatives this year will focus on youth.

FutureSSM is also proposing a collaboration for youth programming involving Algoma District School Board, Huron Superior Catholic School Board, Algoma University and Sault College.

Other news from Monday's City Council meeting:

• North East Regional Security Services will soon be providing seasonal security service at local municipal parks, the waterfront, rinks, marinas and the city works centre. The company, which currently patrols GFL Memorial Gardens and the downtown bus terminal, was awarded a three-year contract with an option for two more years with mutual agreement. Unsuccessful bidders were KC Security Services and NORPRO from the Sault, Canadian Corps of Commissionaires, G4S Secure Solutions from Sudbury and Neptune Security Services from Mississauga. The contract will be worth $150,650 in the first year
• Hansen Signs of Moncton, New Brunswick won a $124,250 job building four large entrance signs to mark the city boundaries and 28 smaller wayfinding signs. The trilingual signs will installed by Superior 7 Advertising of Sault Ste. Marie. Unsuccessful bidders were Compass Imaging Group and Sign Systems of Sault Ste. Marie and Image 360 of Traverse City 
• councillors agreed tonight to look into adopting a suggestion from the Best for Kids committee, for a Sault Transit pilot project from June 27 to Sept. 6 providing free weekend bus rides for children and their parents to go to recreational facilities including splash pad, pump track, Manzo Pool, Greco Pool and the skateboard park
• council approved $75,000 in arts and culture grants to 21 organizations. A further $28,900 is expected to be allocated to a newly developed festivals and events funding stream
• OES Inc. of London, Ont. won a $560,000 contract to provide a new video board/ score clock at GFL Memorial Gardens. Upfront costs of the scoreboard be paid for Soo Greyhounds Hockey Club
• Algoma Leadership Table was authorized to act as the advisory committee as the city develops a community safety and well-being plan. The Ontario government has mandated all municipalities adopt such a plan by Jan. 1, 2021