USAY breaks ground on their Indigenous Youth Centre which is set to open in the spring of 2025

In 2001, with support from Family and Community Support Services, United Way, the Métis Nation of Alberta and Alberta Community Development, USAY or The Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth was established as a not-for-profit organization and began paving the way as one of Calgary’s leading organizations for Indigenous youth.

Today at 11am USAY broke ground on their Indigenous Youth Center, a dream that has been 15 years in the making for the local non-profit.

Through this collaboration between USAY and Indigenous Services Canada, USAY will receive $3,920,000 from the Indigenous Community Infrastructure Fund to build a safe, healthy, accessible and energy efficient space that will expand culturally appropriate programs and services for Indigenous youth in Calgary. This facility will offer a wide range of services and programs designed specifically to meet the unique needs of its clientele.

By reducing social and economic inequalities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, and closing the critical infrastructure gap by 2030, Canada and community organizations like USAY, help to deliver culturally appropriate services based on expressed community needs.

Leeanne Ireland, Executive director of USAY, explained what the new youth center will bring to the Urban Indigenous Community in Mokintsis.

Serena Provost from the Usay Board of Directors explained the significance of the new build for the organization.

Usay and their community partners continue to work tirelessly to bring the grand opening of the USAY Indigenous Youth Center in March of 2025.

“This investment will provide resources and programs that promote well-being, education, and leadership among Calgary’s Indigenous youth.  Now, in a setting they know and love, in a city they’re helping to transform positively, with respect for their cultures, they’ll be able to hone their skills and move towards a promising future. This agreement demonstrates that we can deliver appropriate services to Indigenous People by listening to communities and collaborating with their leaders.”

Find out more about USAY at their website https://usay.ca/.