Summerside Boys & Girls Club gets $200K from ACOA

There were presents for the kids from Santa at an annual Boys and Girls Club Christmas party Thursday, and an even bigger gift for the club itself from Ottawa.

• Boys and Girls Club engagement centre near completion

The Boys and Girls Club of Summerside announced a $200,000 grant from ACOA at the party.

The club says the money will go a long way in paying off the new youth engagement centre, aimed at teenagers.

"That will allow us to pay for the facility a lot sooner, without having to pay interest and loans," said executive director Adam Binkley.

"Fundraising efforts, program grants [will go] directly to the youth, the youth that should get the money."

The Trinity Bradshaw recording studio

An addition to the new centre was also announced Thursday.

A recording studio is being set up, with help from the SandcastleRecording Studio.

It will be named after Trinity Bradshaw, an alumnus of the club who is now an award-winning songwriter and recording artist.

Bradshawhopesthe studio will make a big difference for youth in the community.

"That's a great way to give somebody hope," she said.

"Sit them in front of these speakers in this music studio and all of a sudden you feel important. And you feel like you can make something happen."

The new centre is set to open in January.