Exciting New Youth Programs at Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Centre
Niagara-on-the-Lake Youth Collective and Town Partner to Expand Programs for Kids
Friday nights at the local community centre just got a lot more exciting for Niagara-on-the-Lake’s school-aged population. Thanks to a collaboration between the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake and the NOTL Youth Collective, there’s now a free, weekly, indoor place to play sports like volleyball, pickleball, and more for kids in town — and the people behind this program want to make it stick.
Caroline Polgrabia, chair of the collective’s planning committee, is developing a plan to figure out what activities and services young people in Niagara-on-the-Lake are lacking. The plan will also look at what partnerships the collective should develop with local groups and organizations and create a full calendar of activities and events for kids.
The open-court gym nights haven’t yet been finalized as a weekly event — Polgrabia says the collective is working with the town to keep them running until March Break and free of charge for the time being. After the pandemic, Niagara-on-the-Lake parents saw an urgent need to help kids reconnect socially and move away from screens, Polgrabia said.
Teaming up with Cornerstone Community Church, the collective launched youth programs in January 2023, offering after-school activities, skills workshops, and celebration events for holidays such as Halloween, Diwali, and Chinese New Year. The collective’s programs have grown to meet the needs of different age groups with the support of the town’s parks and recreation division.
At a committee of the whole planning meeting on Jan. 14, Polgrabia talked about the distinct needs of three age groups of children taking part in after-school activities. Toddlers need specialized care from professionals, while kids in grades 3 to 7 benefit from a mix of structure and flexibility. Kids in grades 7 and over need an open space to use for independent activities.
Coun. Adriana Vizzari praises the collective’s growth and its efforts to clarify the needs of each age range, noting the value of these insights for the parks and recreation department. Polgrabia is working with the town to create a more structured model that relieves pressure on parents who are organizing the after-school activities, with support from staff members like Emily Kujbida, recreation program coordinator, and Kevin Turcotte, manager of parks and recreation, who “have been instrumental in supporting these efforts,” she said.
As the youth collective enters its third year, it’s focused on building and keeping sustainable partnerships within NOTL to continue hosting events and activities. Its holiday open court program saw a turnout of 24 and 22 participants on two Friday nights, with minimal promotion beforehand.
Coun. Maria Mavridis commented on the Friday night drop-ins at the community centre, where activities like pickleball and volleyball energized the space. “The community centre was alive and vibrant,” said Mavridis. “The mission was to prove that there’s a need for it — and I think there definitely is a need for it.”
Alongside having a space to play, Coun. Gary Burroughs said young people also need better transportation options. Polgrabia raised concerns about the current on-demand transit system, with anecdotal issues including her children being stranded due to unreliable service, while alternatives like Uber are more expensive than public transit.
She said the NOTL Youth Collective’s plan to address what activities and services kids in town don’t have will also look at transportation needs, challenges in education, and creating a dedicated indoor space for winter activities, also aiming to use community spaces such as schools. Despite the eagerness of partners to collaborate, Polgrabia said time and resources remain the biggest challenges.
“The biggest lesson we learned was — time is precious, particularly for families,” she said. Mavridis said town support, particularly under Kujbida’s leadership, is crucial to easing this burden on parents who have been dedicating late-night hours to volunteering with the youth collective, despite the clear value of their efforts.
Overall, the partnership between the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake and the NOTL Youth Collective is making a positive impact on the community by providing engaging and beneficial programs for kids. The future looks bright for the youth of Niagara-on-the-Lake as they continue to expand and enhance their offerings for the local youth population.
