Meeting the Needs of Youth-at-Risk in Canada : Learnings from a National Community Development Project

Acknowledgments

While completing this project, the consulting team lost a mentor and a good friend. Dick Weiler passed away in July 1995. For 30 years, Dick worked tirelessly to promote the cause of social justice and equality. His commitment to community development made him a well-known figure in the justice, literacy and health communities across the country. He gave generously of his time and energy, serving as a volunteer on numerous community boards and committees. Dick was positive, forward-looking and optimistic. He touched those around him with his seemingly boundless energy and infectious excitement. We are grateful for having had an opportunity to have him involved, even for a brief time, in this project.

We would like to thank the many individuals who helped to make this project an exciting and valuable experience. The National Steering Committee members provided guidance and support throughout the course of this project. Their advice and suggestions helped in many ways. In each of the sites, dedicated individuals shared their experiences and gave us candid insights into their lives.

In April 1997, we lost yet another dynamic and dedicated youth worker. Gale Kozun, former Executive Director of Egadz Downtown Youth Centre in Saskatoon, touched the lives of many young people in her community and always felt that they had a right to a better life. Gale initiated the street outreach program at Egadz, and went on to establish a teen parenting program, a temporary walk-in clinic and a literacy program. Like Dick, Gale was involved in a number of volunteer activities and advocated for the rights of children and youth on several comunity boards and committees. Gale was well-respected for her considerable knowledge and expertise and was often asked to accept speaking engagements to share her experiences. Her wealth of experience contributed to many of the learnings cited in this document. Her death was a tragic loss to her family at Egadz, the community of Saskatoon, and her friends across the country.