Saskatoon aims to help at-risk youth with $10M grant

Saskatoon is in the running for a $10 million prize that could change the lives of the city's at-risk youth.

The city has made the short list for the federal Smart Cities Challenge, beating out hundreds of cities that applied, and has been given $250,000 to create a more in-depth proposal.

Saskatoon's proposal is focused on reducing youth incarceration rates.

"We know that Saskatchewan and Saskatoon has double the youth incarceration rate of any other province across the country," Lynne Lacroix, City of Saskatoon director of recreation and community development told CBC's Saskatoon Morning. "It's serious, and it has long-reaching generational impacts."

Help at their fingertips

The working group, which includes 10 local community and non-profit organizations, has six months to submit their proposal.

One idea on the table involves giving youth a smart phone with pre-installed applications that could connect them to community non-profits and first responders.

"It's using technology, like putting educational programs for mental health, for parenting, for life skills online," Lacroix said. "Making them a mobile-enabled application so they're more readily accessible for all."

Other ideas include creating better access to a person to talk to, like United Way's 211 crisis helpline, and real-time mapping to help them find a safe place.

"What's the closest point of safe relief to where I am right now?"

Stiff competition

Over the next six months, they'll be refining these ideas and creating a prototype. Out of the 10 cities still currently in the running for the $10 million prize, two will be selected an announced in spring 2019.

Saskatoon's competitors for the prize are:

• Airdrie and area, Alta. — improving health outcomes.
• Communities of Nunavut — suicide prevention.
• Côte Saint-Luc, Que. — connecting isolated seniors.
• Greater Victoria, B.C. — transportation improvements.
• Guelph and Wellington County, Ont. — food security.
• Parkland, Brazeau, Lac Ste Anne and Yellowhead Counties, Alta. — rural safety.
• Richmond, B.C. — infrastructure improvements.
• Saint Mary's First Nation and Fredericton, N.B. — Personalized Inclusion Plan.
• The Pas, Opaskwayak Cree Nation, and Kelsey, Man. — smart farm technology.