By: Danielle Dufour
Freelance Journalist
Danielle Debruyne serves as the executive director of the Kikinahk Friendship Centre.
She, along with 17 staff, delivers daily programming, which includes the Head Start program geared towards three- to four-year-old children.
There is a prenatal program to assist with nutrition while supporting expecting and postnatal women.
They also offer a teen parent program to help some of the younger parents in the area.
Every Monday they have air cadets in the gym, but on other days they run a youth recreation time in the gym.
The centre is very youth-focused and provides a positive and safe place to meet with peers, do homework, play air hockey or ping-pong, watch a movie, or have recreation time in the gym.
“We have a lot of what I like to call the Kikinahk kids,” said Debruyne. “They come here after school and hang out or wait for their parents to get off of school or work.”
Volunteers help with the centre’s big events, like their annual pancake breakfast and the national Children’s Day event in November.
The centre puts together much-welcomed Christmas hampers every year.
Looking ahead, the Kikinahk Friendship Centre is waiting to hear back on some grant proposals before they can commit to any new programs or services, but until then, they will continue with their daily programming in place.