TEENS NEED MORE SUPPORT, SAYS GROUP

An uphill battle has begun for a small group of people trying to give
youth in Edson some options for entertainment that doesn't include
drugs or delinquency.

But Andrea Laboucane of the Youth Interagency Committee said it's
going to take more than just the three members of the group to solve
a growing problem.

"There are probably other groups in town trying to do something for
teens but we need to work together," she said.

While youth drop-in centres have come and gone in the past, the Youth
Interagency Council is trying new ideas to raise interest in youth activities.

They are planning separate activities to entice teens to get involved
in something constructive.

"Right now we're sticking to activities," Laboucane said, in an
effort to show that there is interest and hopefully build up to
something bigger.

Recently, a trip was planned to go to a monster truck rally at Rexall
Place in Edmonton, which Laboucane said was a great success.

"There were kids who had never been to Edmonton or Rexall Place," she
said, so it was a good opportunity to increase interest in positive activities.

But funding is always a problem as well as time for members of the
committee as they have full-time jobs outside of their work with youth.

More interest and cash is needed to possibly hire a full-time youth
coordinator.

Laboucane said the town needs to take notice that youth is at risk in
a town where drugs have already proven to be a major stumbling block
for young people.

"Nobody needs to tell them, they just have to look at all the drugs
we have here. I think the town is a little overwhelmed right now," she said.

Currently, the Youth Interagency Committee is trying to pull off as
many successful events as possible so they can present the issue to
Edson town council.

"Hopefully we'll have something to go to the town with and say,
'Look, they want something to do,'" Laboucane said.

Another problem the group is faced with is the disinterested parents
who don't look into what their kids are doing and don't encourage
them to get involved in more positive social activities.

The age group most at risk is 12 to 15-year-olds as numerous studies
put the age that most kids will try marijuana at about 13-years-old.

The committee's next project is targeting 12 to 17-year-old girls
with a program called "Girls in Motion", which will give participants
an opportunity to sample different activities over an eight-week period.

"There's a range of activities across the page," Laboucane said. They
include curling, aquacise and cross-country skiing.

The cost is $40. Contact the town office to register.