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Several individuals in the Columbia Valley are making efforts toward establishing a local youth network here, which, if set up,would be affiliated with the Columbia Basin Trust’s (CBT) Basin Youth Network.

Although the people involved have been in discussion for a few months, nothing official has been ironed out yet.

“Over the last several months, a number of people that have a history of supporting youth in the Valley have come together with the intent of creating a Columbia Valley youth network with funding support from Columbia Basin Trust. Currently, the group is working on a terms of reference, funding agreements and developing an oversight committee,” said Regional District of East Kootenay Area F director Wendy Booth, who is involved with setting up the Columbia Valley youth network. “While there is still work to do in this regard, I’m supportive of the work this group has done so far and I look forward to supporting them moving forward. Once the details have been finalized, I’m sure there will be more information to share.”

The CBT’s Basin Youth Network aims to help communities in the Basin develop local activities and opportunities for youth ages 12 to 18, helping them to learn new skills and getting them to engage more with each other and their communities, and plans to support other needs such as job readiness and work experience programming. Several Basin communities have already set up local youth networks.

The CBT has set aside d $4.65 million over three years ($1.55 million a year) to the Basin Youth Network.