SNA’s Youth Drop-in Program is open to anyone ages 13-17.  New youth are welcome anytime! This program runs out of the Magnus Eliason Recreation Centre (MERC), located at 430 Langside Street. A full healthy meal is served every evening, and a safe ride home or bus tickets are provided at the end of every night.

Our School Year Drop-in Program runs from September to June, Monday to Friday from 6:30pm-9:00pm.

Our Summer Program runs from July to August, Monday to Friday from 4:00pm-6:30pm.

Structured activities are planned every evening and youth have the option of coming and just hanging out with staff, being creative with crafts, or using the gym. 

Outings include going to sports games, movies, skating, bowling, roller skating, and much more! All of these activities are free to registered youth.

Supports for Newcomer Youth:

This program at Spence Neighbourhood Association was put together due to a need to connect the growing number of newcomers that are settling in the West Central community to educational, recreational, and cultural resources.

Our goal is to support newcomer youth and families in connecting them to resources that will fulfill their needs and support the settlement process.
The program also aims to extend support and mentorship to the larger community which includes other newcomer serving agencies.

Our program networks with other newcomer serving agencies to provide services for newcomer youth and their families such as:

NEEDS Inc., IRCOM, City Church, NISW, NOWAN, Klinic, New Journey Housing, local schools, Global Welcome Centre, Welcome Place, the Aurora Family Centre, SERC, and West End Women’s Center.

Educational/Mentorship Programming:

• Youth basketball mentorship program
• Youth DJ mentorship program
• Mental health, health & sexuality, safe space workshops, etc.
• Arts and music workshop
• Homework support

Recreational Programming:

• Free play Basketball at the gym (MERC)
• Free swimming at the Kinsmen Sherbrook Pool
• Skill & sport development programming facilitated by professional coaches
• Outings during summer (swimming at the beach, movies, amusement parks, etc.)
• Sporting events such as Sea Bears, Jets, Bombers, and Goldeyes games

Cultural Programming:

Cultural outings such as Folklorama, Fringe festivals, Festival du voyageur, Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards, African Dance Night and Aboriginal Concerts.
Workshops include:

• African Drumming
• Cultural Cooking
• Indigenous drumming
• Ribbon skirt making workshops
• Sweat sessions