Teen event well attended
The recent Sooke Youth Council event, featuring great music by Victoria-based Current Swell and Sooke bands Riptide and The Brown Paper Baggers, was a great success on many fronts.
It provided local talent a fabulous venue to hone their musical skills, gave Sooke teens easy access to a good time with good friends and great tunes and it gave parents peace of mind knowing that the concert was a safe, dry event.
As a parent, teacher and community member, I was thoroughly impressed with the way this event was supported by so many different groups. First of all, kudos to the teens in attendance who were nothing but positive, enthusiastic and supportive of the performers and each other. At a time when the focus is so often on the transgressions of youth – I think we need to give credit where credit is due. Great job to all of you. Also notable was the presence of a large number of engaged (and dare I say “hip”) Sooke parents throughout the evening as well as the principal of EMCS.
Clearly it is possible, in fact desirable, to give a teen space but still remain supportive. The Sooke Lions and Lioness volunteers also very generously contributed their time and energy to make this event happen for our teens in Sooke.
But most importantly, the members of the Sooke Youth Council should be commended for their dedication to improving the choices Sooke youth have for what constitutes a “good time” in their town and for their faith that their peers – and indeed their community- would rise to the occasion.
Submitted by
Charmaine
Campbell