Clockwise from top left, Perry Neufeld (TYS) shown with: Heath Gabruch (RBC Dominion Securities); Mayor Ames Leslie, Tracy Benson (BATC CDC), and Mayor David Gillan (on behalf of BATC Community Development Corp.); Walter Dutchak (WPD Ambulance); and Jason Bezruchak (Serafina Energy Ltd). (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Construction to begin

Territorial Youth Services announce huge support for expansion project

Apr 12, 2022 | 3:53 PM

The Battlefords community stepped up in a big way Tuesday to show its support for Territorial Youth Services (TYS), and help cover costs for the program expansion to build a new facility.

Director Perry Neufeld said the non-profit has been successful in raising about $300,000 of the $475,000 goal to develop a new facility and expand its program. This time last year they had reached $100,000.

“This is incredible,” Neufeld said. “We’ve been dreaming of this for a long time…When you see people from the community say: ‘We would like to get involved,’ that is just so encouraging.”

Clockwise from top left, Perry Neufeld (TYS) shown with: Boyd Wakelin (RBC Foundation); Peter Frey (Nutec Embroidery); MLA Jeremy Cockrill speaks to guests; and (left to right) Mayor Ames Leslie, Mayor David Gillan, and Rob Rongve (RBC Dominion Securities). (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

The project was previously announced by Territorial Youth Services last year during a presentation to the City of North Battleford Planning Committee.

Honouring greats

Roy Shivers, Darian Durant to be enshrined in Riders' Plaza of Honour

Oct 10, 2024

High School Football

NBCHS Vikings hope for finals run with playoffs just around the corner

Oct 09, 2024

2024 Municipal election

'We need changes' :Terry Caldwell aims to revitalize North Battleford

Oct 09, 2024

Neufeld says the TYS operations day-to-day have always been focused on programs for the youth to help them achieve their goals.

“There are a lot of youth who come for pre-employment training,” he said. “They are getting actual pay cheques. So that’s really cool. There are other kids who have community service hours [to complete]; they are here as well. Or, there are kids with fines to pay off, so we’re working on that. We’ll pay their fine off if they come here.”

Donations were received from the following organizations: $50,000 from BATC Community Development Corp., $15,000 from RBC Dominion Securities; $15,000 from RBC Foundation; $15,000 from WPD Ambulance; and $15,000 from Nutec Embroidery.

As well, Serafina Energy Ltd. is making a donation of over $100,000 in total for the project, comprised of $38,000 from a golf tournament fundraiser last year, another one planned for this year, and a $50,000 contribution it made on Tuesday.

“With us with Serafina Energy, when we look at investment in the community, we look at youth, and education. They are all very important to us,” Community Relations manager Jason Bezruchak said. “When we heard about this actual initiative, it was something we were very excited about and wanted to be a part of.”

Tracy Benson, BATC Community Development Corp. general manager, said the organization is pleased to help with the Territorial Youth Services project.

“I know it was a long time coming for them to get their own building,” she said. “We always try to find ways to help with funding for any kind of [initiative] like that.”

Benson noted that Mayors David Gillan and Ames Leslie sit on the BATC CDC board.

Territorial Youth Services artist rendering of the planned new building for youth programs that will be built behind Territorial Drive Alliance Church. (Supplied images/Territorial Youth Services)

Neufeld said having a larger, full facility to run the youth programs will offer young people more opportunities.

The ground for the project was prepared last year so the building, to be located behind the Territorial Drive Alliance Church, is expected to be developed this week.

“We hope to be occupying it, I would say, the fall of 2022,” Neufeld said. “By November of 2022 we will be in that facility working with kids.”

–

Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow