As I said in a recent column, I was planning on writing about the Libbie Young Centre.
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I wrote about the namesake and the woman who was known for her kind-hearted ways. This week, I want to talk about the centre that still stands today.
The Libbie Young Centre was established in 1983. Fairly recent, compared to some of the other topics I’ve covered. A committee headed by Marie Long, a registered psychiatric nurse in Lloydminster, recognized the need for transitional housing to support and assist individuals in reintegrating into the community.
The committee was intent on naming the centre after a local resident who gave back to the community.
Who better than Libbie Young, a woman who was actively involved in local sports and volunteered whenever she had the opportunity.
The organization started with humble beginnings. They first provided service out of a duplex on the northeast side of Lloydminster. Eventually, they outgrew that location and in 2012, they moved to a larger facility that could house 20 client apartments.
The centre was modelled after the Thunder Creek Rehabilitation Association, a mental health facility in Moose Jaw, Sask.
Initial funding for the facility was provided through provincial and federal bodies.
Today, the Libbie Young Centre still stands and their mission is still to improve mental well-being for people in the community.
I’d recommend anyone who has any interest in the programs they offer, or maybe you want to be a board member, to visit their website at
libbie.ca.
Getting involved in your community can be incredibly fulfilling and without the backing of community members, non-profits can’t go on.
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