Rash of crimes has Hay River wondering if more youth activities are needed

The Hay River youth centre was a place for kids, even those who came from unstable home situations, to be kids.

"It was a support network, but it was also just an outlet for them to shoot pool, play video games, hang out, use the skateboard park," says Kevin Wallington, who used to run the centre.

It shut down in 2014, and was demolished in 2015. Today the youth centre exists only in metaphorical form, supporting other programs around town such as the weekly Lights Out night. With the recreation centre closed for the year, on an average night in Hay River there are not many options to keep young people busy.

"Without that location for a lot of those kids, they're bouncing from house to house, and in some cases just around town, with nothing to do."

The town has seen a rash of crimes lately. Arsons, car thefts, break-and-enters and even an armed robbery (though a 21-year-old has been charged in that incident) are causing some in the community to rethink the town's approach to youth.

"I think what we're seeing now has to bring about a level of recognition that in the absence of activity that's healthy for our kids they're going to find themselves getting into trouble."

Lack of data

It is unclear given the lack of available data whether crime has risen overall in Hay River following the youth centre'sdemolition, although theRCMPsays it has seen an increase in property crime over the past 10days.

The RCMP was asked to provide crime numbers to help establish whether the current crime rate is out of the ordinary. The police instead referred CBC News to the Town of Hay River. The town, in turn, recommended CBC Newscontact the RCMP.

One community member said her family has lived in Hay River for 16 years, and following a break-in at their house, this is the first time she has worried about her parents living in the town.

Youths and young adults

Over the summer, two youths, aged 13 and 15, were charged with the theft of a GNWT truck and the break-ins at the Hay River Golf Club. A 21-year-old man was charged withthe armed robbery of the Rooster convenience store.

Councillor Vince McKaysays he thinks youth aren't the ones responsible for the current spike, and that the town has "a lot going on" for youth, citing the Lights On program and the growing youth program at the Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre.

He blames "young adults" instead.

"I think we've got a lot of young adults that are essentially bored and have got nothing better to do, and not working, and unemployed, who probably have an alcohol problem," he said.

"A lot of people will say, [they need] alcohol and drug programs, but you know, they're going to need to want to go there. These people that are doing this, they don't want to go there. They just want to drink, they just want to cause problems; that's their lifestyle."

Hay River mayor Brad Mapes is of a similar mind.

"A 21-year-old is not a child," he said.

He does acknowledge the need for more activities to keep young people off the street, however, and says the town is working on it.

"Right now as we sit, there's not really any plan for the youth centre," he said.

"We need to find a solution."