A new space created by and for youth in Lowertown

By Amine Mohammed Harmach

A space made by and for youth in Ottawa’s Lowertown came back into being this May at the Youth Centre, located at 201 Friel Street. 

After school from Monday to Thursday, the Transitions and Drop-in programs offer a series of activities for roughly twenty participants.

Initiated by the Lowertown Community Resource Centre (LCRC), and funded over three years by the City of Ottawa through the Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) program, this initiative is structured into two distinct age-based components: 

Transitions, a program for 12 to 14-year-olds, and the Drop-In Centre, for 15 to 18-year-olds.

The aim is clear: to offer a safe place, a variety of leisure and social activities, and a stronger sense of belonging for young people in the neighbourhood.

“This project is based on local mobilisation and a desire to build sustainable solutions with young people that are both safe and conducive to personal and collective development,” explains Françoise Drouin-Soucy, Program Director at the LCRC.

According to her, this project directly responds to the Youth Action Plan, which was unveiled in 2022 following the tragic events that claimed the lives of two young men in the neighbourhood.

“These events highlighted the need to create safe, free spaces where youth could be supported and express themselves,” she points out.

The Youth Action Plan brought together neighbourhood youth and various partners, including local schools, the Ottawa police, community organisations, and community housing providers.

“The aim was to identify what youth needed and desired to improve their living conditions and safety,” says Ms. Drouin-Soucy.

A deep-rooted commitment to youth

It was in this context that Lowertown’s Youth Connected group was born, a youth advisory committee funded by the United Way that meets every Friday evening in a space made available by Ottawa Community Housing.

“As well as getting together to socialise, these young people also want to make an active contribution to their community,” explains the director.

Youth Connected already boasts several achievements:

• The launch of a podcast, funded by the Association des communautés francophones d’Ottawa (ACFO), covering their chosen subjects, their realities, hopes, and challenges.
• The development of a collective kitchen, in partnership with the families currently living at the Econo Lodge.
• Regular involvement in various volunteer activities to serve their community.

These young people have also been directly consulted in setting up the new Transitions and Drop-in programs, to offer programming that truly meets youth’s needs.

Unlike the Youth Connected group, the Drop-in and Transitions programs do not require formal involvement in a committee but simply offer recreational and support activities that are open to all young people.

A lively, welcoming place

The new program will be based at the Youth Centre, which has been completely renovated over the past year thanks to Ottawa Community Housing, with freshly painted walls, a fully equipped kitchen, and a lounge space with tv and couches.

“It’s a safe, warm place where young people can spend their evenings in a positive atmosphere,” says Françoise Drouin-Soucy.

Several resources have been mobilized to support this initiative.

Two leadership positions have been created, including a senior position responsible for coordination.

The LCRC’s social support program will also provide occasional support and refer young people to other services as needed.

The program is also open to external partnerships, with the possibility of inviting guest speakers, compensating for certain specific activities, and developing collaborations with volunteers or professional services. With this project, Lowertown continues to focus on youth, inclusion, and sustainable community development.