For an organization celebrating its 60th anniversary, the St. Alban's Boys and Girls Club is certainly young at heart.
The club, located near Bathurst and Dupont streets, offers a wide variety of recreational, artistic and educational programs to help children and youth reach their full potential.In order to better connect with youth and help them expand their horizons, St. Alban's has added some cutting-edge elements to its programming in its 60th year, with local teens creating weekly podcasts and the launch of YouthTube, the club's own video channel where youth can create their own videos.Those outlets provide St. Alban's youth with a chance to explore technology and the arts while spreading strong values to emphasize social responsibility."These are great opportunities for growth and learning, and (the videos) send out a positive message," said St. Alban's executive director Chris Foster. "We have youth who have created CDs and done a video of one of the songs with an incredibly powerful message."While the club started small - it was originally run by volunteers out of a church basement - it has grown exponentially over the years.Funds raised by volunteered helped build the St. Alban's site at 843 Palmerston Ave., and the organization has spread into various at-risk communities throughout the city."We merged with the Jane and Finch Boys and Girls Club 10 years ago and this week we're opening our 12th site in the Weston-Mount Dennis area," Foster said. The club's satellite locations will all visit the original St. Alban's site on Palmerston on Friday, Nov. 13 for a day of activities, and the club will hold a CD release party featuring St. Alban's youth at Trane Studio on Thursday, Nov. 26.The club is an important resource for thousands of youth and a way for them to experience media and the arts, sports and more in ways they might not otherwise have the chance to do."There aren't a lot of places where youth can go to play basketball, make music and get help with their resume," said Kim Joubert, one of the youth who uses the club.Justin Trudeau (MP, Papineau) dropped by the club on Monday, Nov. 9 to participate in the weekly podcast. The youth were eager to engage the MP on youth empowerment issues and ensure the government was committed to programs such as St. Alban's."We need funding for places like this," said St. Alban's youth Robby Mohammed. "This is like a second home to us."With 60 years under its belt, the club is looking forward to many more. For youth across the city, the organization's continued success is integral to their own."Every kid needs some support at some time and just a place to go and be who they are," Foster said.