Monday’s regular meeting of council had one item of note on the agenda regarding a zoning by-law amendment for a “Youth Placement Facility.”

On City Beat yesterday, Mayor Colleen Smook provided details about the facility.

“MKO got some funding here a couple of years ago and have been working on this. They purchased old Riverview Restaurant’s lot and they’ve been doing extensive renovations on that.”    

Back in 2022, the Manitoba government provided $2 million in funding to MKO to lead the implementation and operation of a youth healing lodge in Thompson, the first of its kind in the province.

The youth community healing lodge is intended to provide more justice resources in the north, reduce youth recidivism rates and decrease the use of Thompson’s RCMP cells for non-violent youth.

Smook said that the facility is expected to house 10 to 12 youth.