March 30, 1999

Prince Albert Youth Centre receives $5,000 from
SGI CANADA

Deputy Premier and Crown Investments Corporation Minister Dwain Lingenfelter today presented $5,000 on behalf of SGI CANADA to the Prince Albert Youth Activity Centre.

The donation represents SGI CANADA's commitment to the drop-in centre, which celebrates its one-year anniversary in May.

"SGI CANADA is pleased to be involved with this initiative," Lingenfelter said. "Providing our young people with an outlet for their creative, mental and physical energy is important to their future. We can see by its growing popularity that the centre is heading in the right direction to meet the needs of Prince Albert youth."

The youth centre opened in 1998 in downtown Prince Albert with help from SGI CANADA and its employees. Staff in Prince Albert, their spouses and family members, volunteered at the Margo Fournier Centre last May to help with the renovations to accommodate the facility's new use.

In addition to its financial commitment to providing $5,000 per year for a three-year period, the corporation also donated gifts in kind to the centre. Gifts included office equipment, furniture and computers.

"We are very thankful to SGI CANADA for their support in the development of this initiative. We have just been overwhelmed by the success of the centre," said Peggy Rubin, Youth Co-ordinator for the City of Prince Albert. "The response level has been so great that the hours of operation were recently extended from five to seven days a week at the request of the youth participants."

The facility offers a safe haven to young people between the ages of 12 and 18, and provides them with opportunities and activities free of charge. Computers are available to do homework, outreach counseling is offered to those who want it and recreational activities are offered on a daily basis. Activities are also available for children under 12 two days per week.

The centre is staffed with Youth Outreach workers and operates in conjunction with the Integrated Youth Committee and the Prince Albert Youth Council, which was created to provide a voice for young people. Attendance at the youth centre averages nearly 900 young people per month.

For more information, contact:
Penny McCune
Manager, Corporate Relations & Safety Promotion
SGI
Regina
(306) 751-1674

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