WELCOME FROM THE YOUTH CREW
YOUth Crew Members:
„ Rob
„ Chantal
„ Harnoor
„ Maeve
„ Meghan
YOUTH FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES
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Halton Hills is a recognized Play Works Partnership Youth
Friendly Community (SILVER)
Youth Friendly Communities provide evidence of
commitment to youth through:
„ Inclusive options for play through facilities, programs
and services;
„ Opportunities for engagement;
„ Public youth events;
„ Community partnerships;
„ Positive Youth Development; and
„ Adult ‘Champions’ of youth.
The YNS strengthens Halton Hills’ position as a Youth
Friendly Community
PROFILE OF YOUTH IN HALTON HILLS
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The Town’s overall 2006 population was 55,289 and is projected to reach
91,000 by 2031 (Region of Halton 2011 BPE)
Youth population is projected to increase 64% by 2031
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+88% Georgetown, +39% Acton, and -5% Rural
YNS OUTCOMES
The Terms of Reference was built upon
extensive work carried out by the Town and
community stakeholders.
Includes five key areas of focus, determined by
youth and other stakeholders through previous
studies, each with a series of objectives that
have been met through this process.
The YNS was overseen by a Steering
Committee and the Consulting Team, who
developed the YNS Final Report that provides
a strategy to the year 2021.
COMMUNITY CONSULTATION
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YOUth Crew Community Outreach Efforts
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Steering Committee Input
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Youth Focus Groups
„ Input from GDHS, CTK, ADHS, & Gary Allan High School
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Service Provider and Parent Focus Group
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Interviews with Key Informants
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Facebook Fan Page
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Dozens of Written Submissions
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Connecting Services Questionnaire
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Staff, Steering Committee & Stakeholder Survey
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Council Workshop
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Public Open Houses (2)
KEY FOCUS AREA OVERVIEW
FROM THE YNS
CONNECTING SERVICES
To establish a Municipal strategy to sustain a strong, supportive
collaboration within the youth community, including engagement of a
diversity of youth and youth serving agencies.
CONNECTING SERVICES
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Facilitate a meeting with community service providers relating to youth
services to determine responsibilities, share resources, collaborate, etc.
Continue working with community service providers and local school
boards, supporting them through formal agreements where appropriate
Co-location of facilities and programs with those offered by community
service providers is encouraged at future municipal youth spaces
Include private enterprise in round table discussions to facilitate
relationship building with youth
GOOD PRACTICE EXAMPLE
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Northumberland Children’s Services Committee
„ Rural and Urban blend
„ A collaboration between providers of
services for youth and their families within
Northumberland County
„ Share their resources to achieve desired
goals (sub committees and
„ Facilitate education and professional
development
YOUTH ENGAGEMENT
Recommend best practices for engaging youth in advising, planning, delivery,
communication, and evaluation of the provision of services and facilities.
YOUTH ENGAGEMENT
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Consistently evaluate the most effective advertising and
communication mediums to reach local youth
„ Build the profile of MYAC in the community and promote,
potentially aligning with the YOUth Crew
„ Use social media for information sharing and feedback
Support youth-specific arts and cultural programming
Ensure youth have a voice when completing any municipal
studies or strategies
GOOD PRACTICE EXAMPLE
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City of Vaughan
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Youth City Councilor
Advocates for youth by
speaking on matters such as
transit, recreation, budgets,
etc.
ACCESS
To determine a strategy to ensure services are inclusive, sensitive and accessible to all youth
including youth of diverse cultural, racial and ethnic backgrounds, youth with disabilities,
newcomers, youth of varied sexual orientation and youth who might be otherwise marginalized
(e.g. homeless, substance mis-users, low income, etc.).
ACCESS
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Review the Mandate and Vision Statements to ensure that all
youth are considered in activities/services
Ensure that youth have a voice at all tables and discussions
relating to transportation, transit, and movement throughout
the Town
Implement movie nights at one or more community centres
until such time as a third party provider is identified
Enhance the number of core, free, universal programs for
youth and promote these opportunities through MYAC
GOOD PRACTICE EXAMPLE
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City of Pickering
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County of Brant
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Free programs for teens aimed at their interests (usually
basketball, floor hockey, cards, dance, etc.)
Rotate County recreation programs throughout different
parts of the rural communities to ensure equal access
Municipality of Port Hope
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Working agreement with a local high school to deliver a
lunch time intramural program once a week
YOUTH FRIENDLY EDUCATION & TRAINING
To support and foster YOUTH FRIENDLY training and
educational opportunities.
YOUTH FRIENDLY EDUCATION
& TRAINING
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Launch a Youth Services group with a training event that provides
foundational support for Positive Youth Development
Develop a policy that all staff who interact with youth are required
to have Positive Youth Development training
Consider developing a working group as part of the youth services
group to specifically explore training and education for youth, staff,
volunteers and parents
GOOD PRACTICE EXAMPLE
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City of Hamilton
„ Youth Engagement and Action in Hamilton is a local group
of youth promoting positive youth engagement
„ “Youth Engagement 101” distributed to youth service
providers across the community to address gaps identified
by the group
Town of Hanover
„ Youth Roots
„ Initiated the “Asset Building” Newspaper Series sponsored
by the Hanover Post
„ Each week, messages created based on the 40
Developmental Assets approach
DEDICATED YOUTH SPACE
To determine indoor and outdoor space requirements and confirm
locations in the urban areas of Georgetown and Acton.
DEDICATED YOUTH SPACE
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Phased approach to meeting youth needs
„ Short-Term – explore how existing municipal facilities (e.g.
community centres, cultural centre, rural halls) and
community buildings (e.g. schools, offices) can be
optimized to accommodate drop-in use
„ Longer-Term – pursue addition of dedicated youth spaces
at the Gellert Community Centre and the Acton Arena &
Community Centre
Encourage social service organizations to access meeting
rooms at municipal facilities
Expand the existing skateboard park at Mold-Masters
SportsPlex to target intermediate and advanced users, and
consider a smaller scale skatepark at the Gellert Community
Centre to provide localized access
GOOD PRACTICE EXAMPLE
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Town of Caledon
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Caledon Centre for Recreation & Wellness
Indoor lounge and open space capable of accommodating
skateboarding, co-located with pool and fitness
Outdoor components onsite include ball hockey rink, large
skateboard park, sports fields, etc.
City of Barrie
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Holly Community Centre
Dedicated entrance for youth, easy access to co-located
gymnasium, fitness centre, pool, multi-purpose rooms,
outdoor basketball courts, etc.
Adjacent to local high school
NEXT STEPS
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Council will consider adoption of the YNS in principle
(R-2011-0077)
Town Staff will create an implementation plan, with
further consultation from youth
Halton Hills will continue to strive for excellence as a
Youth Friendly Community
Youth will continue to feel valued and engaged in their
community
THANK YOU FROM THE YOUTH CREW