Weyburn's youth have a new place to go after school, thanks to the efforts of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Weyburn, which recently opened an after-school program for kids in grades one to six.
Amy Mohr, the organization's Director of Development and Communications, expressed excitement about the program's first few days.
"I had the pleasure of being there for the first day, and it was super fun," Mohr said. "We played outside on the field, had snacks, and coloured. It was a great time."
The program is at the Credit Union Spark Centre and operated by registration. Mohr says there is still room for more participants.
"We're always looking for additional kids that would like to come and hang out."
The after-school program originated from a partnership with the City of Weyburn, which approached Big Brothers Big Sisters to provide the service.
Mohr noted that while this is a new initiative for Weyburn, other Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies across Canada have similar programs that provide helpful guidance.
"We're really proud to bring this service to Weyburn and look forward to serving kids."
Despite initial nerves from both staff and kids, Mohr shared that participants quickly settled in.
"The kids started opening up right away. We were laughing and joking, playing dodgeball by the end of the first day; everyone was having fun."
The program is conveniently located for Legacy Park Elementary School students, as the Spark Centre is connected to the school.
"We have one of our staff meet the kids at the door between Legacy and the Spark Centre and walk them over," Mohr said. "Children coming from other schools, like St. Mike's or Assiniboia Park Elementary, are met at the front door."
Mohr emphasized the organization's commitment to the community, noting that they are excited for what's to come.