Youth for Christ - The Station opens doors to new Altona facility

With renovations completed, Youth for Christ - The Station is fully settled into it's new space at the former Friesens box plant building in Altona.

Executive Director Sheridan Sawatzky says kids are quickly adapting to the larger facility at the corner of 6th Street SE and 2nd Avenue.

"May 6th was our first day of actually having youth back in the building, which actually was a day short of marking a year since we launched the project. That's been really cool to see how within a year we were able to actually be back in the space. The kids are absolutely loving it," he said. "At first there was a little bit of push back because the old Station definitely felt like home and it was small and it was cozy. But as soon as they got a look at what the space was going to be and what the space is now when they showed up, it's been nothing but excitement! We have kids waiting outside the door before we open every evening that we're open."

The Station runs runs drop-ins on Tuesdays from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Thursday nights from 6-9 p.m. along with free supper. Friday nights offer new hours of 8-11 p.m.  

While youth are now welcome to drop by the Station, Sawatzky says they are working on getting all programs operating. 

"Right now we have just our drop-in program running. Obviously a big part of the move to the new space was our Maker Space program. There are still a few things that need to be certified before we can actually be in those spaces, but it is definitely getting very close."

Program Director Marty Falk says they could not have made it to this point without their sponsors.

"It's been a big project and it's needed a lot of support and that's one thing that we have not really had to worry about. There's been a lot of support in this community - business personal - and it's been great to see."

The Station has hired a full-time staff person, Ashley Klassen, to organize summer programming such as day trips to the beach. 

Sawatzky says Phase 1 of the relocation was about renovating their new space and making it usable. Phase 2 will focus on equipping the Maker Space at a cost of roughly $250,000.