SPYC hosting free Valentine’s Day dance for junior high and high school students

Image credit: St. Paul Youth Council. 

A free Valentine’s Day dance is coming to St. Paul on Feb. 14.

The St. Paul Youth Council are holding the event at the Centennial Senior’s Centre next Friday night from 8:00pm-12:00am and is open to Grade 7-12 students.

Chair for SPYC Faith Hunter said this is the second year they’re holding the event, which is geared towards giving youth something to do.

“There’s not a lot to do in town that’s youth-orientated that’s new. We only have a few options. I think being able to bring something to the community for youth is very beneficial. It helps everybody be able to do something and keeps kids active and stuff like that,” said Hunter.

St. Paul Youth Council is also a leadership mentor program ran by the St. Paul and District FCSS.

While hosting events throughout the year, SPYC does some work with town council on initiatives that impact young people in the community.

“I think it’s important for youth to have a say within our community. We have a town council member so if there’s anything that comes up, regarding youth specifically within our community, he brings it up and he gets our opinion and it gives us a little bit more of a voice within the town,” said Hunter.

The 16 person council is bigger than last year’s and ranges from Grades 7-12 with one postsecondary student.

They meet monthly where they discuss these issues, plan events, or come up with awareness campaigns, said Lynn Smid, St. Paul and District FCSS director.

“They will also have a discussion during that time about a social service or social awareness that they might want to discuss. Let’s say we take on vaping or cannabis youth, that type of thing. It’s just a great way to get their feedback and decide on awareness events or campaigns that they want to be a part of,” said Smid.

There will be security at the dance as well to ensure there is supervision.

DJ Elle Rose will provide the tunes and there is a cash concession at the dance.

Most importantly, it’s free.

“We do really endeavor to try to keep anything that we do with the St. Paul Youth Council [free]. We don’t want that to be a barrier for why youth would get out and participate.”