Young people are an integral part of any community.
And the Town of Penhold recently recognized their contributions and showed its appreciation for youth during Youth Week May 2 to 6.
“This is the first time we've done a Youth Week in Penhold,” said Amanda Lindgren, youth director with the town. “We're doing this event to celebrate the wonderful youth in our community.”
Lindgren noted how many of the town's events tend to focus on families and young kids. “This allows youth in our community to do something to celebrate them,” she added, noting Youth Week was held for local youth in grades 4 through 12, who ranged in age from nine to 18.
In organizing and coordinating Youth Week, Lindgren said they looked to other small communities across Alberta that have also held successful youth weeks in previous years.
Each day during Youth Week, the town and several community organizations and businesses worked together to provide various activities, both indoor and outdoor, for the youth, said Lindgren.
Those activities included a free youth hip-hop dance class, youth bubble soccer, a youth art class at the Penhold library, activities and games with the Penhold Boys and Girls Club at Memorial Hall, and a youth movie night at the Penhold Regional Multiplex in the gymnasium.
Most activities took place in the evening or directly after school and were free for youth to participate in.
“All activities were free except for the snacks sold during the movie night,” she added. “All proceeds (from snack sales) went towards the new future skatepark in town.”
“We're very fortunate that we have some great supporters and sponsors in the community,” said Lindgren. “We've had some donations from Penhold Family Foods, Penhold School of Dance offered free hip-hop classes, Divines Café, Penhold Subway, Penhold IDA pharmacy and the Penhold and District Library.
“They all offered to help and support us in some way for our first Youth Week.”
The first Penhold Youth Week received significant positive feedback from both the community and the youth themselves, noted Lindgren, adding that such a positive response may help make the week an annual event.
“We just wanted to celebrate our youth and tell them how awesome they are,” said Lindgren. “We are definitely open to having this as an annual event in the future.”
Amanda Lindgren
"We just wanted to celebrate our youth and tell them how awesome they are."
