BONNYVILLE - It may have been raining, but the weather did not dampen spirits at The Hive Lakeland Youth Hub's first birthday celebration held exactly one year after opening to the public on June 1, 2022.
Karaoke, a piñata, a cupcake decorating contest and a sidewalk barbecue were among some of the ways youth and staff marked one year of The Hive's operations.
The birthday bash was also an opportunity to highlight the ongoing upgrades to the facility, which include a near-complete multi-station kitchen and lounge area. Remaining projects slated for The Hive's next phases are the construction a fitness studio, art space and another accessible washroom.
Manning the grill and supplying the hamburgers and hot dogs was members of the Lakeland non-profit Protection for the Unprotected. The non-profit's mission is to prevent child abuse through education and public advocacy.
The barbecue was not the first time the group has supported The Hive. In February, Protection for the Unprotected hosted a dinner and dance in Glendon that saw a portion of its proceeds funnelled into the local youth hub.
For Protection for the Unprotected member Jim Dillon, The Hive is an important space in the community to support because its function is to give youth and young adults a safe place to hangout as well as a place to access resources that they may not feel comfortable accessing elsewhere.
While the construction and operations of The Hive was made possible with the financial support of provincial and federal grants, it is the brainchild of local youth who designed what the youth hub would be like and operate as.
Over the last year, The Hive has continued to function as a safe and inclusive space that offers a wide range of activities and services for all Lakeland youth between the ages of 14 and 21.
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