Open letter to all political parties:
I am writing on behalf of the Boys and Girls Club of Whitehorse to seek your leadership in developing and adopting policies and programs that invest in the Yukon’s children and youth.
The Boys and Girls Club of Whitehorse has existed for more than 12 years diligently serving youth ages six to 18 in Whitehorse.
We provide an after-school teen drop-in centre with a focus on healthy living and employment services. We also provide after-school programing within two local schools for youth ages six to 12.
In our years of work and in consultation with our national body, we have found that the after-school hours (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.) are the ones when youth are most vulnerable.
Working with younger youth in this time and teaching them healthy habits such as dedication to homework, recreation and physical activity and nutritious snacks goes a long way to increasing youth success later in life.
In Whitehorse, many parents have spoken with us about how difficult it is to find safe, affordable and reliable after-school care for their youth.
There is not only a lack of available services in Whitehorse, but there are many services that are not following best practices or creating an ideal place for youth to be.
We ask all parties, if elected, what, if anything, will your government do to assure the youth of Whitehorse have access to safe, supportive, healthy and affordable after-school programing, be it with an after-school program, such as ours, or with daycares, dayhomes and other childcare services?
We all want to see unlimited opportunities and a bright future for our children and youth.
Boys and Girls Clubs are committed to helping children and youth become healthy, competent and well-functioning members of society.
I trust your party will seize this moment to support and improve the Yukon’s children and youth’s health, social and economic conditions.
Your leadership matters.
Dave Blottner, executive director
Boys and Girls Club
Whitehorse