The Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth (USAY) celebrated the grand opening of its new facility, a permanent space that serves as Calgary’s first centre for Indigenous youth.

USAY was created in 2001 with support from a variety of funders. The building will be its headquarters and help deliver youth programs that encourage positive identity, sense of self, and a connection to culture and wellness.

“The opening of the Indigenous Youth Centre marks a powerful new chapter for our community,” said LeeAnne Ireland, USAY’s executive director, “This space was designed with and for Indigenous youth and aims to be a place where they can feel safe, celebrated, and supported. Every detail reflects the voices and visions of our young people. We are proud to open these doors not just to a building, but to opportunity, healing, and hope.”

The design uses passive strategies such as solar gain and holistic elements of biophilia and natural lighting, as well as rooftop space for the future integration of solar panels to reduce operational costs through energy efficiency.

According to architect Lemay, the main floor is for collaborating, socializing, and nourishment, and leads to a versatile communal kitchen and educational area. Beyond that is a multipurpose maker’s space for skill-building and creative arts. Both areas feature barrier-free entries and hallways mediated by wood and translucent polycarbonate panels for togetherness and privacy.

A second floor dedicated to staff leads out onto a cultivated rooftop space with a garden meant for growing traditional medicines and teachings, and communal seating for smudging, constellation teachings with Elders, lounging, and self-care. A 6,400-square-foot adjacent lot was designed for sports, markets, food handouts, employment fairs, and drum circles.

For this project, USAY received $3,920,000 from Indigenous Services Canada to expand culturally appropriate programs and services for more than 4000 Indigenous youth in Calgary.

Photo by Lemay.