McMan to renovate youth centre kitchen thanks to $35K Community Foundation grant

By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on May 8, 2025.

asmith@medicinehatnews.com

The McMan Youth, Family & Community Services office on Kingsway Avenue is preparing for a major change to welcome the upcoming Kickstart Program, thanks to a $35,000 grant.

As the recipient of the Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta’s 2025 Impact Award, McMan will receive the funds needed to renovate its kitchen, part of a plan for a new, innovative approach to youth support in the community.

“We’re taking this space that looks like an office right now, and making an inch in a youth friendly therapeutic space that they want to come to; anyone 11 to 25 is welcome,” said Shannon Nelson, director of services with McMan. “They will receive services from addictions counsellors, therapists, social workers and resiliency workers, all kinds so that we can get youth to access more services and not feel stigma of getting their needs met.”

Nelson explained they will not be duplicating any services in the community, but inviting experts into the space to allow for Medicine Hat youth to get the support they need in one place, whether they know what that looks like yet or not.

This project has been an idea since 2019, says Nelson, and they’re thrilled and grateful to bring it to fruition thanks to the support of CFSEA. They expect the renovations to start within the coming weeks, and take approximately two months.

Niki Grey, executive director of CFSEA, expressed how happy they are to be able to help McMan’s new program make an impact with their funding, which, like all the organization’s grants, is made possible via donations to their endowment fund.

“The Community Foundation has an annual Community Impact Award, and this year, McMahon Youth, Family and Community Services were the successful recipients. The $35,000 award will go to support their kitchen renovation for the Kickstand Centre,” said Grey. “The kitchen is a gathering place for the youth to be able to make connections, talk about food security and learn some important life skills along the way.”

Grey says there were several fantastic ideas this year, making the ultimate decision difficult, but they felt that the Kickstand Centre would be able to make a significant impact for youth in the city and surrounding region. She says when they were reviewing ideas, they felt it was something the city has needed for a long time.

“We’re so happy to be able to be a part of that, to and for Kickstand to select Medicine Hat as a community to bring this program to support youth,” said Grey.

Nelson encouraged residents to stay tuned, as more information regarding the Kickstand Centre and its offerings will be available closer to the grand opening.

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