The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Flin Flon MLA Clarence Pettersen delivered the following member's statement in the Manitoba legislature on Tuesday: Mr. Speaker, today I would like to tell you about an incredible project organized by the Community Youth Resource Centre that is helping to better our community and empower our youth. Starting last Wednesday, children and youth from the Community Youth Resource Centre began work to paint murals on the Jack Freedman Bridge underpass. The participants were mentored by Jasyn Lucas, a northern Manitoban artist known for his ability to depict the surreal moments in nature. Jasyn guided the children and youth through painting two scenes representing night and day, which also illustrate the seven sacred teachings in Aboriginal culture. Forty young people aged six to 27 were involved in everything from planning to painting the murals. Used to cover up graffiti, the murals add color and beauty to our city while also encouraging our young people to develop their creativity and explore their imaginations. Many of the young people at the Youth Centre feel this project empowered them, and are now drawing and painting more. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, the Youth Centre drum group Silver Evening Star Singers played the Grandmother Song and the Friendship Song to celebrate the new artwork. Our elder, Margaret Steppan also blessed the murals in a smudging ceremony. Now that the murals are completed, the community is just waiting for some of the young artists to sign the project. By having the children and youth sign the murals they helped create, they are developing pride in their work and also lifting the spirits of the community. The underpass is no longer an eyesore _ it's a beautiful display of community partnership. In addition to this mural project, the Community Youth Resource Centre also works in the community by volunteering at personal care homes, working to clean up the highway and much more. I would like to thank the Loretta McDermott and all those at the Community Youth Resource Centre, the (Aboriginal) Friendship Centre, the NorVA Centre, Jasyn Lucas and his helper Nicki Brightnose. I would especially like to thank all the young people who joined together to paint these murals, making our city a more beautiful place to live. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
