The Inuvik Youth Centre Society was born in 1996 as a result of a grassroots initiative to meet the needs of the youth of Inuvik. The initiative itself originated with an informal survey of Inuvik youth between the ages of thirteen and nineteen. The anonymous survey revealed that many of youth in the community were turning to drugs, alcohol and tobacco to entertain themselves. The survey also indicated that there was a high population of students between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, of aboriginal ancestry, who considered themselves at risk, experienced a high level of boredom, and had little or no resources to partake in organized sports or after-school programs. The youth polled specifically requested a youth centre where they could hang out in an alcohol- and drug-free environment, play pool and video games, do homework, and generally get away from the monotony of living in an isolated community.
The results of the survey triggered a huge community-wide push to make the youths’ dream a reality. A volunteer board was struck, and initiated the process of securing funds for the centre. In time, the Town of Inuvik donated the use of the abandoned library, local contractors donated the renovations and services, and several youth helped to renovate the building. Equipment including pool tables, computers, televisions and furniture were donated by several local businesses. A coordinator was hired, and the centre was staffed with volunteers from Aurora College’s Recreation Leaders Program.
Since that time, the centre has grown into a stable organization employing a full-time director, an assistant director and four part-time youth workers. We now have 11 regular volunteers, and a number of other individuals who volunteer with us on an event-specific basis. The demand for the centre and the services it provides, however, has remained unchanged. The need for the centre is as great as it was 10 years ago, prompting community members, staff, board members, local businesses and agencies to work tirelessly to maintain and support the Inuvik Youth Centre.