Quinte West has approved an aid package for the Quinte West Youth Centre.
The option to help them was brought up during Wednesday’s council meeting, after a deputation from the Youth Centre’s staff requesting relief from rental and utility fees on their facility. They also requested permission to sublet on the property, renting rooms to other community agencies in order to offset their own expenses.
The Youth Centre rents a facility from the municipality, to provide after-school programs for local youth. The programs are designed to provide safe and supervised activities for youth, reducing risk of youth crime in the community.
After the deputation, council discussed a proposal to provide the youth centre with relief from rent and utilities, funded from the 2026 community fund grant budget. Councillor Jim Alyea raised concerns with the amount of extra funding being requested.
“If you quickly do the math, $40,000 we’re already giving them, and now they’re coming to ask for another 33% increase to what the city is already providing,” said Councillor Alyea. “That’s really tough to swallow.”
After significant debate, council voted to provide relief from rent and utilities up to $16,000 for 2026, along with allowing them to sublet the property. That motion passed 7 to 5 on a recorded vote. Councillors Michael Kotsovos, Don Kuntze, Karen Sharpe, Shelley Stedall, and Leslie Roseblade voted against the motion.
