Early Christmas gift for local youth centre
SNC-Lavalin makes third annual $5,000 donation to Firehouse Youth Centre
Chris Newman (left) was presented a cheque for $5,000 from Justin Alizadeh of SNC-Lavalin that will go towards the Firehouse Youth Centre in Clarington. (Photo by Chris Jones)
By Chris Jones/The Oshawa Express
SNC-Lavalin has donated another $5,000 to Clarington’s Firehouse Youth Centre, their third donation in as many years.
Chris Newman, the program coordinator at the Firehouse Youth Centre, was presented with the cheque by Justin Alizadeh, SNC-Lavalin’s project controls director. It was presented at the Darlington Energy Complex in Courtice. Their latest cheque puts them at a total of $15,000 donated to the Firehouse.
The Firehouse is a free drop-in recreational centre. It is for youth that have been administered by the John Howard Society of Durham Region. It is meant to offer a safe space for teens to gather and participate in activities and athletic programming, as well as join adult-supervised peer groups where they are given the opportunity to build positive relationships.
Newman says that the previous donations have been used for “investment in our actual facility. So upgrades that we haven’t had the luxury of doing before.”
He says this includes upgrades to their kitchen, a music room, and ongoing programs.
“It’s huge that SNC has come on board and stuck with us for those three years,” says Newman. “Words alone can’t really express where the dollars go because the youth centre becomes home and a safe sanctuary for so many youth in the Clarington area, and those investment dollars are going right back into the programs that are supporting them everyday they walk through the door.”
Newman says that the Firehouse’s Bowmanville location serves between 20 and 25 youth every night, which translates into over 4,000 visits to their programs throughout the year.