Why this empty 66-year-old home is about to change lives of youth in eastern P.E.I.

An empty property is being turned into a free and low-cost after-school centre, helping youth learn skills, arts, and more. Maria Sarrouh reports.

MONTAGUE, P.E.I. – An unused 66-year-old home in eastern P.E.I. is being restored into what organizers hope will become a much-needed place for young people to gather, learn and create.

The house in Montague, owned by BGC Charlottetown, is set to become a free or low-cost drop-in centre with recreational, arts and cultural programming for youth aged 12 to 18.

“There really isn’t a specific place for youth to go that’s just theirs,” said Caroline Woods, the organization’s executive director.

BGC Charlottetown recently released a report on the need for youth programming in the Town of Three Rivers, which includes Montague.

The assessment engaged 43 adults and 126 youth. An overwhelming 100 per cent of respondents from the community survey, interviews and focus groups reported that more youth programming was needed after school and during the summer.

The report found that while the town is vibrant, socioeconomic need is high. Approximately 19 per cent of children aged 0 to 17 in Three Rivers live below the after-tax low-income measure, which is higher than the provincial average of 15.6 per cent and the national rate of 17.2 per cent.

That suggests affordability remains a critical barrier to participation for many families.

“Rural areas, and not unique to P.E.I., but certainly a challenge here, you’re far away from everything,” Woods said.

“To be able to access transportation not only has a cost associated with it, but it has a scheduling component. You need to have that adult or guardian who’s willing to take you around, or you need your own vehicle. It’s difficult for everybody.”

BGC Charlottetown previously operated a Montague location, but it closed suddenly in 2023 because of staffing challenges.

While Woods said there are already local sports programs and schools working to support children in the community, the goal is for the new centre to complement those efforts.

The plan is to offer lower-commitment recreational opportunities, along with arts, music, cooking and other creative programming. It’s also expected to help teens build leadership skills, focus on employment and prepare them for the transition into post-secondary education or the workforce.

But before that can happen, the home needs extensive renovations, including work on the roof, flooring, windows, doors, bathrooms, kitchen and accessibility upgrades.

Those changes are being partly funded by LePage, a Canadian adhesives and sealants company.

LePage is celebrating its 150th anniversary and wanted to “look back and give back,” said Senior Brand Manager Brian Benison.

Its founder, William Nelson LePage, was born in Charlottetown, and Benison said the BGC house in Montague felt like “the perfect project.”

“With this being our origins, we thought it was very important to come back here and to fix it forward,” Benison said. “We think it’s going to be a great spot for youth to come and enjoy.”

The project is also providing paid apprenticeship opportunities for Holland College trades students.

Benison said experienced tradespeople are retiring quickly, while new workers often need opportunities to build knowledge on job sites.

“Some of the people working here, this is their first career job and others have been here for a while, but it’s important for us to plug into generations and be the glue that binds them,” Benison said.

The goal is for the renovation to be completed sometime this fall, with teens using the space shortly after.