Sioux Lookout Anti-Racism Committee

Youth learn about and provide input on plans for Northern Ontario’s future.

On Friday, Kenora MP Greg Rickford came to Sioux Lookout with good news for local youth.

Rickford announced that the governments of Canada and Ontario will each invest up to $1.3 million to develop a Sioux Lookout cultural centre for youth and the arts in the old Sioux Hotel building, a total funding announcement of $2.6 million.

The Municipality of Sioux Lookout will contribute the balance of the total eligible project cost up to $3.8 million.

Dan Fraser, along with acoustic group The Contour Portrait, performed at the coffee house February 7 hosted by the Sioux Lookout Anti-Racism Committee (SLARC)
Youth Centre. Organized by Fraser and SLARC, these coffee houses have been growing in popularity with all ages.

The Sioux Lookout Anti-Racism Committee Youth Centre hosted an acoustic only coffee house last Saturday. Approximately 25 people came to check out the talents from local musicians, including The Contour Portrait, Rebecca Crane, Katy Quinn & Cody Whiskeychan, and Sean Hochstetler, (pictured here).

SLARC has operated the Multicultural Youth Centre since 1995. This safe, cool, and popular hang-out is open five nights a week and provides programs and services for youth aged 12-19. For the past 12-plus years we have worked with successive generations of Nishnawbe and non-Nishnawbe youth and seen them grow and flourish in an environment that encourages them to be young and creative, and to plan and execute their ideas with skilled adult guidance. The Youth Centre fills a notable gap in a town where there is little to do after school for youth not heavily involved in competitive sport.

SLARC's Multicultural Youth Centre is an important community resource - a safe and popular hangout for youth aged 11 to 18, that is drug and alcohol free. The youth have responsibility to run the Centre (with guidance); by trusting them with this responsibility, they get to see the products of their own choices. They come up with, plan and run all the activities.

Recent popular activities have included:

• Drama Night, run by volunteers Michelane Gliddy and Tim McKay


• Art Night, with volunteer Theresa Crann