More than 10 years ago, Yorktown Family Services launched our YouthSpace at the Jane St. Hub. Since that time, we have continued to expand on our program and service offerings to youth. This past year, the YouthSpace officially became the West Toronto Youth Hub, and we welcomed Reconnect Community Health Services and WestReach as co-located partners.
An integrated youth services site, the West Toronto Youth Hub provides rapid and seamless access to mental health, social service, and primary health support. Services are facilitated by a Care Navigator that helps youth and young adults access the services they require including the Youth Mental Health Walk-In therapy clinic, Youth Mentorship, Choices (a drug misuse prevention group program), Youth Outreach, a parenting program for teens and young adults, and wrap around supports for child welfare clients.
As the metamorphosis from “youth space” to “youth hub” continued, it was clear that an investment in transforming a drab and nondescript environment into one that was welcoming and youth-focused, was a must. In November of 2018 the creative artistry of Nav Sidhu, was enlisted.
Nav, age 22, is “Nav’s Blank Canvas”. Neeli Grewal, West Toronto Youth Hub Manager, shared with Nav the hopes and dreams for the space. Nav visited the West Toronto Youth Hub and observed. She saw ethnic and cultural diversity, a space where counselling and a focus on mental wellness was important, and she saw that youth enjoyed being there. Nav aligned her creative concepts with these things in mind.
She wanted the rooms to be interesting, “visually comfortable”; something that youth can relate to. Multiculturalism was the theme in one room. A large chalk board became a focus in the main room for youth to make their own art part of the space. The room with the skull is meant to provoke some thought. It is painted in softer colours so it is conducive for use as a counselling room. “The last room, with the brain, the astronaut and the butterfly are meant to inspire; that anything is possible. It reflects my story of being a student and going through my own personal hardships, rekindling my love for art, and turning it into a business. I am grateful that Yorktown chose to support a local artist and I value this great opportunity,” says Nav.
It took Nav approximately 300 hours to design and paint the four rooms at the West Toronto Youth Space and she considers it a labour of love.