WHAT ABOUT OUR YOUTH? — Part 1

Aldona Barysas-Oleinikas

Oct 1

3 min read

October 1st, 2026

Creating Opportunities

Simple Solutions: Positive. Practical. Inclusive. Local. Doable.

We hear candidates say, “I want to look after our youth.” And I believe most of us genuinely care about our children and young people.

But caring about young people is the starting point, not the solution.

Our children and teenagers are growing up in a world shaped by the pandemic, changing education, social media, artificial intelligence and the rising cost of living.

Parents are worrying about the basics: housing, food, clothing and the cost of giving their children opportunities to learn, play and participate.

So what can we do here in Wasaga Beach?

Here are four ideas I'd like us to explore.

1. Saturday Night at the RecPlex

Could we make better use of our existing facilities by offering regular, affordable family entertainment?

Imagine a regular Saturday night movie at the RecPlex. There are 6,000 movies/documentaries available through our library from the National Film Board of Canada - for free!

For families with young children, an affordable evening out can make a real difference.

And bringing people together creates opportunities for neighbours to meet and children to make friends.

It gives an opportunity for young parents to ask other parents for advice: "My kid is starting to throw grapes at the wall?" or "My kid wants to wear underwear over his jeans?"

Before building something new, let's look at what we already have and how we might use it more creatively.

2. Turn Bike Safety into Mentorship

We hear reminders from the OPP about bicycle safety.

And recently, a post from the OPP about teens riding bikes.

That's important, but what if we took the next step?

Could experienced local cyclists and cycling groups help develop a youth cycling programme, with safe group rides, skills training, distance challenges and friendly competitions?

Perhaps it could end with a hot-dog barbecue and a chance for everyone to celebrate what they've accomplished.

This would be about more than cycling. It could give young people opportunities to learn from trusted adults, develop confidence and discover a new interest.

Rather than only telling teenagers what not to do, let's give them positive things to do.

3. A Loonie for Our Youth

The cost of participating in activities can be a barrier for some families. Hockey equipment is expensive. Even a school or Youth Centre field trip can be difficult to afford.

I have already raised a simple idea with the Town's CAO: A Loonie for Our Youth.

What if residents had an opportunity to donate a dollar when visiting the RecPlex or Town Hall, with contributions supporting opportunities for children whose families need assistance?

A dollar may not seem like much, but small contributions can add up. With the right arrangements for collecting, managing and distributing the funds, could we help more children participate without feeling embarrassed about their family's circumstances?

This is an idea that would need to be explored, including how it could be administered fairly and transparently.

Sometimes, a simple solution starts with a loonie and a community that cares.

4. Don't Forget the Quiet Kids

Not every child wants to play hockey, join a sports team or attend a noisy event.

I know something about that. I'm an introvert, a bookworm and someone who loves research. I also recognize that children have different personalities, interests and ways of connecting with others.

What opportunities could we create for young people who enjoy books, creative writing, coding, robotics, science projects, board games or research challenges?

Could the Town work with the library, schools, technology enthusiasts and volunteers to help young people discover their interests and find others who share them?

A child doesn't have to be the loudest person in the room, the best athlete or the most outgoing student to have something valuable to contribute.

Every child deserves an opportunity to find their people.

Let's start a conversation.

These are ideas to explore, not promises that every programme can be introduced without cost or planning. We'd need to consider community interest, available facilities, partnerships, staffing and funding.

As a Councillor, I could ask questions, bring people together and advocate for practical solutions. Residents, local organizations, businesses and volunteers could also help turn good ideas into meaningful opportunities.

What would you add to this list? Is there an activity you'd like to see available to young people in Wasaga Beach? Is there something you or an organization you know could help make possible?

Let's talk about what we can do together.