The Kikinahk Friendship Centre celebrated 50 years of operation in La Ronge on Aug. 6.
The Friendship Centre is a non-profit community and cultural organization that aims to assist Indigenous communities through programs, initiatives, and social welfare services.
Executive director of the centre, Danielle DeBruyne, said decades of service have received a lot of positive feedback from the community.
“It really shows that we have a lot of history in the building and in the community. We’ve received a lot of support from community members, the schools and other nonprofits to remain successful,” she said.
The afternoon celebration was a success, with vendors, a presentation, and an impromptu karaoke session.
“So we started planning in about January, February of this year. We wanted to just open the doors essentially to everybody in the community to have a day of celebration. So we provided the opportunity for vendors to come free of charge to sell their products,” explained DeBruyne. “And then we had a free barbecue, hot dogs, hamburgers. We also had a history PowerPoint to incorporate the history in the building as well as our current programs had tables.”
She also added that they are revamping their outdoor sign through Mosquito Workshop, a woodcraft company in La Ronge.
With over 50 years of service in communities, DeBruyne said it has become more family-based rather than just exclusive to youth.
“So initially a friendship center was created in the late 70s to provide recreation for youth. And then over time, because we are a community needs organization, we ran a hostel for I think about 10 years,” she said. “We’ve been able to come full circle to help prenatal moms we’re expecting and anywhere from the Head Start program, which is three to four year olds, young parents in our teen parent program, and then seniors for other supports and families for we have our clothing giveaway every three to four months and then community events such as our annual pancake breakfast and our Christmas hampers.”
She also added that one of the programs that continues to have a lasting impact is their youth program.
“We do have evening recreation as well as youth outreach to assist youth to ensure that they have a safe place to be, to gain friendships, to do homework if they need to. And then our youth outreach assists youth with their community service and ensures that they are on the right path to success,” said DeBruyne.
The Kikinahk Friendship Centre will be hosting “Fuel Good Day” on Sept. 15, where every litre of fuel purchased helps support the organization’s programs and services.
“I feel that it’s important to have a friendship centre in La Ronge to provide services that other organizations can’t.” said Debruyne.
