Young People Give Community a Healthy Shot in the Arm: Camperville, Manitoba

By: Alison Norman

In January 2005 the Public Health Agency of Canada and Parkland Community Futures Development Corporation partnered with the intent of initiating a Healthy Initiative project with youth in a Northern Affairs Community. The project would involve working with a youth group to identify what project the group would like to begin in their community.

Through the direction of Aboriginal Northern Affairs Camperville was identified as a promising community to work with and so PCFDC met with an existing youth group and the Camperville Recreation Director. While many ideas surfaced for potential projects, the decision of the young people was unanimous to focus the project on upgrading the existing Camperville Youth Centre. The Centre would encourage healthy activities and include a Healthy Initiatives section for youth to have easy access to information on health issues.

The group also formed a fundraising committee to promote awareness of their project, to maintain community support, and to be able to purchase additional equipment for the Centre.

The youth group created an action plan and brought the initiative to realization. Part of their action plan included helping paint the arena that hosts the centre, bringing in new equipment, contacting health workers for brochures and information sheets to put in the information section, making posters promoting healthy living, and organizing the grand opening which took place in May 2005.

Subsequently, the Camperville Youth Centre has received additional funding from Lighthouses and from the Manitoba Metis Federation to support two additional staff positions and now there are many great activities every night. This was a great community project. The youth gave an immense contribution and deserve a great deal of credit for the overall success of the Centre.