After being tasked to work with the Riverview community on a “series of traumatic events” last year, Heather Stordy says there was a realization that there is an opportunity for the young people in the community.
Thus came the Riverview Youth Network, a group of community partners looking to address the issues affecting young people.
Since its creation, they have identified bullying, drug use and a sense of belonging as a few of the key issues youth in Riverview face.
“[Youth] are telling us that they would like more opportunities, they would like more activities and we saw there was a real need, and we want to make sure as the stakeholders and the youth-serving agencies, we support them,” says Stordy, a Community Response Coordinator for the Anglophone East School District.
Among those involved in the network is Andrew LeBlanc, the Mayor of Riverview. He describes the initiative as a “customized approach” that will assess issues and solutions through feedback from parents and students.
“I think oftentimes we have these conversations, but we don’t want to talk about youth issues without their perspective, and so, we’ve made sure they’re included in the process as well,” says LeBlanc.
Leading the project is the Town of Riverview, Anglophone East School District and YOU Turns.
Focused on action-based solutions, they have brought in other agencies to help get the job done.
This includes the BGC Riverview, RCMP, Horizon Health Network, United Way, ISD, the Riverview Skatepark and Atlantic Wellness.
“We know that no one particular stakeholder…can do this alone, so what we wanted to do is bring everyone together so we could engage our whole community in action planning and being part of the solution,” says LeBlanc.
“We have already tasked the group with coming up with what specific actions they’re all going to take on.”
LeBlanc adds being part of the Riverview Youth Network means committing to take action, whether it be through an agency or stakeholder group.
The network held its first meeting on Oct. 7. Now, they will continue to engage with the community and listen to the voices that want to be heard.
Stordy encourages anyone in the community who is interested in speaking to reach out to her or Mayor LeBlanc.
“We want to hear from the people in the community, what they’re seeing, hearing and feeling. We want to hear from the youth and how we can really build this team around them to really look at all of the opportunities.”
