b'INDIGENOUS-LED PROJECTSEMPOWERING YOUTH,Photos courtesy of M.D. Steele.ENRICHING COMMUNITYA long-awaited youth centre is nearing completion in Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation. The Rosalina Haines Memorial Youth Centre will serve as a vibrant space for sports, culture and community, honouring the legacy of a dedicated leader while providing young people with a place to gather, grow and thrive.By Warren HeeleyA new youth centre is quickly takingcommunity and encouraged theirrounded approach for the axis of the L. shape in Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation.participation in all kinds of sportsThere are two large function roomsa At more than 5,400 sq. ft., the Rosalinaand other activities. Her work in thegymnasium and a multi-purpose roomHaines Memorial Youth Centre willcommunity and with the youth of Sandywith one located in each of the arms of have a very meaningful impact on theBay inspired Sandy Bay Chief Trevorthe L. The gymnasium has a 30-ft. ceiling Sandy Bay community, hosting sportingPrince and Council to name the newand includes a basketball court and opportunities and other events as wellfacility in her honour. rock-climbing wall. Other rooms include as providing the young people in SandyTHE DESIGN a counselling/quiet room, a healing room Bay with the opportunity to participateOur team approach to designing theand a room for education, meetings and in a number of cultural and spiritualcentre was to meet with people in theto view movies.programs. It will also provide a locationcommunity, including young people, andThe entrance vestibule is located at the for young people to gather together. discuss their desires for the building,curved part of the L, which creates an The need for this youth centre goessays Wall. The community wanted tointeresting effect when people enter the back about 10 years, says Brian Wallmix sport opportunities with traditionalbuilding. There are a number of places of Wolsey Wall Architecture & Interiorcultural needs. In the end, we designedin the centre where the structures Design, the architect for the project. a building that was reflective of theglulam wood is exposed to provide a The schematic design for the projectSandy Bay community. In particular,more natural look to the interior. was done by Giovanni Geremia. It was the meetings clearly indicated thatTHE INTERIORa long time in coming to fruition, and the community wanted the centre toThe centres interior features a number [its] good to see that the project isbe vibrant, based on the use of brightof wall murals mixed in with the use of nearing completion. colours throughout. We also went with astrong colours such as greens, blues Rosalina Haines, the centres namesake,semi-circle design in the entrance, whichand yellows. One of the murals has an was born and raised in Sandy Bay andwas seen by the community as a moreIndigenous headdress flattened against was described as a very community- welcoming look.the wall within it, and there is a massive oriented person. She was particularlyBased on this input, the centre hasimage of an eagle on the gymnasium focused on the young people of thean extended L-shaped design with awall. All these interior steps were in 46 BUILD MANITOBAwinnipegconstruction.ca'