The Sk'ai Zeh Yah Youth Centre in Prince George was one of five winners at the 25th annual Community Safety and Crime Prevention Awards on Friday.
Sk'ai Zeh Yah (Children of the Chiefs House) won the Youth Leadership Award, according to information released by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General on Friday. The low-barrier youth centre supports young adults, up to age 29, most of whom were previously youth in care.
“Sk'ai Zeh Yah is a one-stop resource providing culturally safe and supportive services with wraparound supports that include outreach staff and life-skills workers,” the ministry statement said. “The centre also facilitates cultural connections for Indigenous youth and young adults living off-reserve.”
Carrier Sekani Family Services opened the centre in November 2020.
The winners in other categories were Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver CEO Shawn Bayes, the Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness in Victoria, RCMP Integrated Homicide Investigation Team family liaison victim services manager Lovepreet Brar and Heiltsuk Gvi'las Restorative Justice Program director Mary Brown.
"These inspiring award recipients prove we can create a safer province by working together to prevent crime," Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said. "I congratulate them for their leadership, commitment and innovation, and I thank them for all they do in building safer communities."
