Spotlight on Aylmer’s youth centre
Aylmer does have a youth centre, just beside the Paul-et-Isabelle Duchesnay arena, and it is very popular.
The Centre d’animation jeunesse d’Aylmer (CAJA), formerly known until last fall as the Centre jeunesse d’Aylmer, is a youth centre for teens aged 13 to 17. It offers an environment where teens are able to participate in leisure, sports and outdoors activities.
The entrance to the CAJA is located on the east side of the Paul-et-Isabelle Duchesnay arena. Once inside, three activity rooms are available to the teens – a 40 x 75 feet gymnasium, a pool and cinema room, and a room for video games and computers.
Many activities take place in these rooms: ball hockey, basketball and volleyball. The CAJA also organizes artistic activities such as dance and painting. There is a facilitator in each room when activities take place. Supervision at the youth centre is assured by one supervisor and his team of nine facilitators who lead the activities.
“Since the CAJA mandate is to keep the teens busy and entertain them, the centre offers many activities to please as many teens as possible. Participation is free,” explained a City official. The youth program is under the responsibility of a City development officer. About 25 and 35 teenagers come to the centre every weekday evening and between 40 and 50 during the weekends. The CAJA is open six nights a week.
The CAJA facilitators also run the Hockey Loisirs program for children aged 8 to 13 who want to play hockey once a week without having to be part of a minor hockey association.
During the summer, the CAJA team works at the Parc des cèdres beach as well as at the Paul-Pelletier pool, from Monday to Friday, from 11:30 am to 4:30 pm. “Two facilitators organize beach volley-ball, beach soccer, Frisbee, kiting, beach games, etc. This free service runs for nine weeks, from the end of June to mid-August. Depending on the weather and whether the beach is open or not, between 60 and 100 people participate every day. At the Paul-Pelletier pool, the team organizes three summer competitions. Approximately 125 participants and spectators come for these events. (Trans.: CB)
