The community is invited to celebrate the grand opening of the new Youth Centre at the Okotoks Recreation Centre on Friday, February 14 from 3 to 9:30 p.m. The event will include a special address from Mayor Thorn, the unveiling of the Optimist Donor Wall, and free roller skating in the gymnasium.
The Okotoks Youth Centre is now located on the main level of the Okotoks Recreation Centre, and welcomes ages 8-17, with 18-year-old teens eligible to attend until they graduate Grade 12.
The Youth Centre’s previous location was a lower-level multi-room space that posed accessibility and supervisory challenges. After determining the Youth Centre would need to be relocated, the Town engaged local youth, parents and guardians in the community to gather input to help create a fun, safe and welcoming space in a new location.
In September 2023, parents and guardians were asked to provide input on improvements to the Youth Centre including safety, hours, and accessibility. In June 2024, youth were given the opportunity to provide input in terms of how the space would look and function, such as voting on their preferred colour scheme, furnishings and gaming equipment.
Equipped specifically for youth and supervised by trained, on-site staff, the new Youth Centre features a TV lounge with gaming consoles, a pool table, ping pong table, air hockey table and a multi-purpose area for games, programs, and activities.
To find the full schedule for this event, visit okotoks.ca/new-youth-centre. More details on the new Youth Centre and its exciting offerings can be found at shapeourtown.okotoks.ca/youth-centre-reimagined.