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8 - The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, Mardi 21,20 *CbanXP CD' nn&. pirnig & tath Flotvm 487LaiiHerAve., 878-2881 i '/XCape Youth Centrqe safe haven for teens By USA CARTWRIGHT The Champion It's been four years since the XCape Youth Centre opened its doors to Milton's teenagers. Since that time, hundreds of youths have walked througb the door for a sale place to bang out with their frienda or talk with the volunteera. To celebrate their succesa, and to show their aponsors why they should continue to support the drop-in centre, XCape will host an informa- tion evening Saturday at 7:30. The event is open 60 anyone who wants to find out what XCape is about, said Sheens McGuigan, special eventa director for Uhc centre. The evening will begin with a tour of the facility. Sorne organizations "support us flnancially, but they've neyer been in the building before," Ms McGuigsn said. After the tour, there will be a short formai pre- sentation during which XCape volunteers will speak about the variety of programs offered at the centre and answer any questions. Cake and rel'reshments will follow the presentation. XCape, which opened its doors February 29, 1996, gives youths aged 12 60 19 years a safe place to bang out. Organized activities The centre also, offers organized activities such as pool and basketball to help build relationshipa with youths, said Oua Scaiano, programt director. -We waust to inveat in Uhe kid's lives. We wVant 60 show them that they can achieve whatever they want." The drop-in centre, formerly a grocery store, is decorated with movie posters and donated furni- ture. Couches, chairs and tables are set up so kida can talk, draw or play carda. There are also, pool tables, ping pong tables and more. A graffiti wail is repainted every year, and Uhe youths are encouraged to paint on it. "16 givea themn ownership," aaid Mr. Scaiano. A snack bar is available, as is a phone for making quick calla home. There is also a fenced- in patio at the back - Use only place youths cao smoke. There are strict rules at XCape, Most having 60 do wiUs respect, Mr. Scaiano said. Druga and alcohol are not ailowed at Use cen- tre and youths must respect the staff and each other. Horse play, swearing and putting people down are also prohibited. For the moat parf, yohspolice themacîves, Mr. scaiano said. When the rules are broken, the person is kicked out for Use evening. Wben tbey come back, nothing is rnentioned. It's only when Use druge or alcohol ndle is bro- Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Local teen EmiIy MeGuffie adda to 6he palnted graMfti waII insîde the XCape Youth Centre, whlch celebrates Its fourth anniversary. ken that the person is kicked out for good. On average, about 60 60 70 youths stroîl tbrough XCape every Friday night, with the number gejing up 60, 100 60 110 on summer eveninga. Groupa of frienda usually meet for an evening of socializing. Mr. Scaiano said they sec generations of youths come into Use drop-in centre. Right now, Use average age is about 15. The age changea as younger ones cornte in and the older ones leave - cither because tbey don't want to, bang out witb younger kida, or tbey get their licence. Most of the youUss wbo go 60 the drop-in cen- tre now have been coming for about a year. XCape is completely mun by volunteers. Eacb volunteer bas 60 undergo crim-inal and reference cbecks as well as an interview Usat includes bud- dying up witb anoUser volunteer. The volunteera, as well as the youtbs themacîves, bave 60 fled cornfortable with the new person beforc bc is allowed 60 work at Use centre, Mr. Sesiano said. "XCape is a safe baven. A comfortable place 60 relax and feel safe, and 1 tbink Usat is good," said Milton resident Andrew Dundasa wbo bas been volunteering ait the centre for the last year- and-a-half. "t hope wbat bappens is that thia place expands or anotber centre cornes up when the town grows. This (troubled youUss) is not juat a city tbing, it is happening everywbcre." Mr. Dundasa aaid there isn't much for kida 60 do in Milton, and Usey are at an age where Usere are a variety of paUs 60, choose. "We try our beat 60 be positive role modela for kida. You do what lintle you can (60 help tbem) bave a good life." Fun hang out spot Botb Mr. Dundaaa and Mr. Sesiano agreed that is bard 60 judge wbeUser XCape bas belped. He said you bave 60 do the beat you can and hope the youUhs choose Use rigbt paUs. "Everyone (bere) bas a good beart," Mr. Dundasa said. "Ali Usese kids bave potential 60 do great thinga." The youtba, too, said tbey enjoy the centre. Eacb corne for a différent reason,-but ail say it's a flan place 60 bang out. Darryl Moore, 19, bas been going 60 XCape aince it opened 60 keep 1dm "out of trouble." Brandon Gwillarn, 14, comtes 60 the centre evcry Friday nigbt that be isn't playing hockey "because it's fun. It's a good place where every- one cornes." Right now, the centre bas 10 volunteers wbo spend their Friday nights at Xcape. "t just love it," said Elles DeWolf, wbo bas volunteered for Use last two years. "I like 60 be here, 60 make sure the place atays open so that kida havesa place 60 go." At the end of each night, the volunteers get together 60 discusa the problerna Usey had, and wbat they can do 60 get better. "Most voluntecra love being bere," Mr. Scaiano said. 'They leave feeling energized." In addition 60 the drop-in centre, XCape offers s Wednesday night bible study group, a weigbt program and, corning soon, a drama program. Tbcy sîso offer a camping trip in Use summer. Each year, XCape takes the youtbs on a four- day camping trip to Camp Madawaka, juat out- aide Algonquin Park. "For some of the kida it's probably the firat time tbey have been in a canoe," said Mr. Scaiano. "It's Use firat tirne Usey've experienced Canada's outdoors." He said it's also a way 60 build better relation- ships. 'There is a lot more mole-rnodelling you can do wben someone has the opportunity 60 sec (youths) 24 bours a day, rather than three or four." XCape YouUs Centre is locatcd at 174 Mill St. For details caîl 878-3519. COGECO 14 Programmlng Schedute - March 2lnd, 2000 -March 27th, 2000 Ecrnoe Encore Week M Reiéw Ene * e w y44 600 m n PISeor 5a 6 00 n Catle 11te c m 530630,730pn Pie In! 4:3p Th e Locel e 5:30,62030p PIuWdIn! www.cogeco.ca 1:0<39 16ie LocaISoen 7:0p sapTak 1 ! 60009 NLoa neufe 53p Sei owae 7:009» LW Mn te Eg Acton T-1 1 ea tCu Her Awars 8IlOs Cabe In TeCaes nee 8:00pe SpsntsZNELPiv 21. Main Street North, PIumni vs C getow» Acton, ON L7J 1'/9 '67 Banta'ns 519-853-1270, or 853-4700 Feature this week: Your source for local news & Information: Plugged In! 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