Bashaw town council heard a detailed Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) funding request from a major provider of youth programming in the community. The presentation was made at the Jan. 2 regular meeting of council.
Councillors hosted Christine Buelow, executive director of the Bashaw Youth Foundation, who made the organization’s budget presentation to council.
Although the youth foundation’s budget presentation was listed as a separate agenda item, Buelow essentially made one presentation for both the youth foundation and Bashaw & District Support Services (BDSS).
According to the BDSS 2025 budget presented by Buelow to councillors, “social programming for youth” was estimated to see revenue of $99,228 while the same department was expected to see expenses in 2025 of $119,759.
In her presentation Buelow noted the Bashaw Youth Drop-in Foundation is an FCSS contracted service.
It was also noted in her written presentation that the Bashaw Youth Centre supports young people in and around the town.
“Social programming for youth is intended to provide space and programming/services that allow youth to develop positive self identity/image, positive relationships, values and social competences, as well as have healthy connection to their community,” stated Buelow’s written presentation.
It was noted that Bashaw has a number of services for youth but the youth centre is the only place for them to enjoy a consistent drop-in location, especially after school.
Buelow observed in her written report the Bashaw Youth Centre, which partners with BDSS, has 122 memberships and averages between 18 and 39 youth visits per day which adds up to roughly 133 visits per week.
The youth centre is open for drop-in visits Monday to Friday 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. plus full days on occasion. Staff ranges from one to three part-time depending on the schedule.
During discussion Buelow stated youth foundation programming tries to touch the lives of every Bashaw-area youth, whether they are facing a crisis or not.
Coun. Cindy Orom stated her children participated in a lot of the summer 2024 programming through the youth foundation and she was impressed at how much Bashaw’s organization had to offer, especially compared to some other communities.
Orom stated her kids really enjoyed themselves too.
Coun. Jackie Northey added that older youth have an opportunity to help out providing programs and may be paid a bit of money for their efforts too.
It was mentioned several times at the meeting that it seems more rural youth actually use the foundation programming than urban; the ratio mentioned was about 57 per cent rural, 43 per cent urban.
The term “rural” seemed to refer to youth whose primary residence is outside the Town of Bashaw boundaries, but close enough that the youth attend school and other activities in town.
Readers should note user numbers and place of residence, which are often factors in grant money decisions, can be an important detail, as it’s not unusual for rural municipalities to balk at funding requests from agencies located “in town.”
Councillors unanimously accepted Buelow’s presentation for information; typically, such a presentation is included in the municipality’s future budget deliberations.
Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review
