YOUTH OFFERED OPTIONS TO DRUGS

For a month and a half, Anne Aram has been trying to improve her pool
skills and come up with some fun activities for the young people who hang
out at the Whitehorse Youth Centre.

The centre's new executive director said in a recent interview she wants to
offer the city's youth an alternative to drugs and alcohol.

One of the latest initiatives was the Beat the Heat pool tournament between
the Whitehorse RCMP and youth at the centre. Aram proudly pointed out that
the youth beat the police in the tournament. It's something she hopes to do
every month in an attempt to alleviate some of the differences between the
youth and police.

Even some youth who haven't been through the justice system have some
negative perceptions about police.

Pool seems to be one of the most popular activities at the centre. While
Aram's skills have been improving, it's the youth who seem to have most of
the talent.

Those between the ages of 13 and 18 can drop into the centre on Fourth
Avenue through the week and on Saturdays. And while they can just hang out,
they can also take part in the nightly activities.

For example, one night of the week is a craft night. There are also trips
to places like the Takhini Hot Springs, the pool hall at the Porter Creek
Centre, or the movies.

A recent trip to the Dairy Queen with the youth to discuss what the youth
want to do generated two pages of plans. "They were really excited," Aram said.

There's also a meal cooked each night for youth who come in, and a washer
and dryer are available for those with laundry to do. Describing her work,
Aram noted: "It's so much fun."

Before moving to the territory, she worked at a drop-in centre in Vancouver
for those between 13 and 24 for six years. "We saw it all," she said.

That work focused largely on helping young people with drug and alcohol
problems. The centre was for youth where abstinence was not an option at
that time. It was very focused on harm reduction, she said.

After six years there, Aram wanted to do something different, but at the
same time, continue to work with youth. That brought her north as the
Whitehorse Youth Centre's executive director after a trip here earlier this
year.

While there are certain things youth across the country tend to experience
and have to deal with, in the Yukon, the issue of residential schools and
their effects continue to be an issue.

Aram noted it's difficult enough to be a teenager when you're from a
"regular" home; it's even harder when there are problems at home that add
to it.

One thing that's become apparent to Aram in the past six week is that there
is a need for some sort of preteen programming as a number of youth under
13 want to go to the youth centre.

To do that though, the centre would have to keep the two groups separate,
Aram said.

A preteen program would probably be aimed at nine-to 12-year-olds.

The youth centre is open Monday to Thursday from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday
from 1 p.m. to 12 a.m. and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m.