Despite navigating changing pandemic restrictions and countless other obstacles caused by COVID-19, the youth co-op still managed to move into a new youth centre in Campbell’s Bay, hold their usual softball league, hold regular animation on wheels events and involve youth in a project to create art reflecting the history of the Pontiac.

According to Director General Stéphane Durocher, some of the youth co-op’s goals this summer have been to get youth out of their houses and away from screens. They wanted to help keep youth active and get them to engage with their communities.

“I think youths and children needed something for their mental health and physical health,” said Durocher. “It was important to offer something recreational and to get them to work, get them out of the house to move.”

“There was lots of isolation this last year and more… which has lots of negative effects on their health. So this way we got them out to do something,” he added.

New youth centre

Durocher explained that MDJ opened their first youth centre in the Pontiac in Campbell’s Bay in 1986, but it was later closed. This year, they opened a new youth center in the municipality’s former library.

Throughout the summer, they used the new location to hold cooking nights, craft days, movie nights and various other events for youths of all ages.

“Our mandate here is six to 17, so I think it’s very important to reach all those age groups,” said Durocher. “If not, who’s going to offer something if we don’t.”

To help decorate the interior of the new youth centre, the group put artwork and crafts made by youth on display around the building.

The youth co-op also made use of the nearby outdoor rink. After the municipality added half-pipes, ramps and basketball nets, kids were able to skateboard and play basketball. Thanks to funding recieved from the municipalities of Campbell’s bay and Litchfield, Maison des Jeunes was able to buy skateboard equipment and even host workshops to teach kids how to skateboard.

Animation on wheels

In an effort to help Pontiac youth become “critical, active and responsible citizens,” Maison des Jeunes held regular animation on wheels events, where the co-op’s older members helped organize fun days for children of the Pontiac.

Over the course of the summer, the youth centre organized animation on wheels events in Campbell’s Bay and Chapeau, as well as in collaboration with local summer camps such as Le Patro.

Youth organized the fun days and chose what sorts of activities and games would be featured. While MDJ staff helped supervise, the youth themselves took on the bulk of the responsibilities, such as planning, structuring and setting up for events.

“It’s the way to integrate them in their community,” said Durocher. “Learning to work responsibilities, and having youth integrated in a positive way in a community, which was the biggest success.”

Regional Tourism Information Station project

As part of the MRC’s Regional Tourism Information Station project, Maison des Jeunes youth were taught about both history and art this summer.

Youth received lessons on the history of different municipalities – Bristol, Portage du Fort, L’ Île aux Allumettes, Alleyn et Cawood and Rapides des Joachims – and were tasked with encapsulating this history in the form of different artwork.

“The MRC hired different artists to work with the youth to make a masterpiece,” said Coordinator Desiree Tremblay. Artists taught different art forms, such as felting, painting, tile mosaics, shadow box art and photo collage.

Once all the art is finished, all the artwork will be featured in an art show and displayed at Regional Tourism Information Station boards in the Pontiac. Tremblay described this as a way for youth to “make their mark on the Pontiac.”

“The whole goal is for them to learn the history of their region and be creative,” said Tremblay.

Sports and summer work

Over the course of the summer, Maison des Jeunes also held their annual softball league, which is set to conclude this Wednesday evening. Durocher noted that the league had had 29 teams, 365 players and 70 volunteers this year, which was on par with what they had in 2019.

“As soon as we got the green light from Santé Publique that we were going into the green zone, we were able to fully operate the ball season,” said Durocher. “We were just happy to start playing ball again.”

This year, in place of play-offs, the softball league will tally stats and whichever team finishes first in their division will win a banner.

Earlier in the summer, the ball league received a donation of $1,000 in memory of Robert Chartrand.

Besides ball, Maison des Jeunes provided youth with an opportunity to work various landscape jobs around the community and receive payment through a federal grant.

Durocher explained that they had youth help maintain lawns around the Pontiac, often for the elderly and those who couldn’t cut their own grass. The hope was that their hard work would help youth build a strong work ethic and learn independence.

“We want them to develop and maintain good habits,” said Durocher. “And to be engaged in their communities.”

*Disclaimer: This article has been altered from its original version to correct an error present in the text.*

Register or subscribe to read this content

Thanks for stopping by! This article is available to readers who have created a free account or who subscribe to The Equity.

When you register for free with your email, you get access to a limited number of stories at no cost. Subscribers enjoy unlimited access to everything we publish—and directly support quality local journalism here in the Pontiac.

Register or Subscribe Today!