#youth house

Holly Smith, LJI Journalist

BARACHOIS – Vision Gaspé Percé Now (VGPN) is launching a crowdfunding campaign to complete a new bilingual youth space in Barachois. Although the project has been planned for years and construction started last spring, delays and rising costs have slowed the progress.

Project Coordinator Emma McGinnis explains the vision behind the project: “The vision is to create an inviting, safe, and accessible gathering space for local youth — designed around their expressed needs — where they can participate in activities, connect with peers, and access services without having to travel far from home.”

The space will be open to all youth, but there is a particular focus on local English-speaking youth. “Primarily for local English-speaking youth, including the 25 Anglophone students at the local high school and the 65 English mother-tongue children ages 0–14 in the census area. This does not include youth who are bilingual who attend the French schools in our area. We also want to mention that we are promoting this space as completely bilingual and want to make sure ALL youth are included,” Ms. McGinnis stresses.

Ms. McGinnis notes that the youth space will fill a significant gap in the community. She says, “It addresses the lack of any local youth gathering space (the nearest is over 40 km away), limited transportation options, and barriers to accessing services for English-speaking youth in a rural, socio-economically challenged area.”

Construction delays and cost increases

Construction on the youth space began in March 2024, but Ms. McGinnis explains that delays and deviations from the architect’s plans led to a dispute with the original contractor. “This required bringing in a new contractor and materials, increasing the budget by $175,000. Unfortunately, that is all that can be said.”

Currently, she explains, “the space is an idle construction site with the second floor inaccessible to the community until work is finished below.” Safety regulations are the main reason it cannot yet be used. “Due to the fact that buildings need to have two fire escapes and currently the second stairway is under construction, the second floor cannot be utilized until the construction is complete, regardless of the fact that the second floor is basically finished,” Ms. McGinnis points out.

Crowdfunding goal

VGPN still needs additional funding to finish the work. Ms. McGinnis says “Up to $150,000 from community and foundation donors.” The crowdfunding campaign on La Ruche runs from August 12 to September 13. “Our campaign is for $25,000, and if we reach our goal, La Ruche has a program that will match our goal to make it a total of $50,000 raised,” she adds.

The donations will cover the final stages of construction. According to Ms. McGinnis, “funds will help complete a welcoming space for youth aged 12–17, offering bilingual programming focused on mental health, creativity, leadership, and social connection. Interior work includes finishing the extension (drywall, paint, tiles), a secure stairway, and electrical systems. Outside, we’ll install a basketball court and complete drainage and siding. This dedicated space will host drop-ins, creative workshops, peer support groups, and active living activities. Every dollar helps us open before the end of 2025.”

How to help

Ms. McGinnis emphasizes the importance of financial support. “Financial contributions, whether large or small, to help close the funding gap and complete the renovations,” are needed to move the project forward. She also encourages people outside Barachois to “donate to the fundraising campaign and help spread awareness of the project.”

VGPN is offering rewards to thank donors for their generosity: A $50 donation receives a personalized Social Media Shoutout on the organization’s Facebook page. For $100, donors get a handwritten thank you card from a local youth. A $250 donation earns your name on a laminated poster inside the youth space. At $500, donors receive a framed photo of the youth space with a signed certificate of recognition. And for $1,000, your name or business name will be engraved on a plaque inside the youth space.

What’s planned for the space

The youth space will serve as a safe and welcoming place for youth to hang out and participate in activities. Ms. McGinnis explains, “activities led by an on-site animator with a background in youth work, partner presentations, and programs tailored to youth needs in a safe and secure environment. It is also just a space where youth can come and hangout away from their house.”

Partnerships will play a key role. According to Ms. McGinnis, “organizations will use the space to meet with youth, offer services, and run activities on-site. More specifically, Aire Ouverte in Gaspe will have a small space to use in order to run their programs and have a safe space for youth to come in to talk to mental health professionals.”

Long-term sustainability

VGPN already has plans to keep the youth space operational in the long term. Ms. McGinnis says, “VGPN already runs over 20 funded projects annually, so programs that already exist will keep it funded and operational. We also use the Barachois Rec Centre (which is where our youth space is located) as our satellite office, so 3-4 employees are stationed there full-time.”

Strong community support

Interest in the project has been strong from the start. Ms. McGinnis says, “youth were directly consulted on the design, and the need for a local youth space has been identified by the community and partner organizations. We have support letters from the schools in the area, both CJE’s in the area and La Maison des Jeunes de Gaspe. The campaign has a video that goes along with it. If you look on the registration page.”

For Ms. McGinnis, the most rewarding part so far has been “watching our community come together to help finish this space and seeing the interest and excitement from our youth!”

The next steps

If the crowdfunding campaign reaches its goal, VGPN hopes to open the youth space as soon as possible. “ASAP! We originally wanted to open last September, now this September, so literally as soon as we can!!” says Ms. McGinnis.

Looking ahead, Ms. McGinnis hopes the youth space will become “a permanent, youth-centred hub in Barachois that ensures equitable services for local youth and serves as a bridge for accessing resources, opportunities, and community connection.” With the campaign underway, VGPN is calling on the public to help make that dream a reality.