The Orillia Youth Centre is a drop-in facility for youth ages 11-17.  They offer structured and unstructured activities, social and recreational outings, and everything offered to ALL YOUTH is 100% free of charge.  While COVID has impacted their traditional programming opportunities they are open seven days a week and update their daily programming across all their social media platforms.  The Orillia Youth Centre supports and offers opportunities to youth of all walks of life.

We happen to think this is a wonderful Organization and thank them for everything that they continue to do to support our youth.  We love to get to know the person behind the passion and are pleased to introduce you to Kevin Gangloff who is the Director of the Orillia Youth Centre in our Community Spotlight.

Can you tell us a little bit about your background and when you moved to Canada?

I am originally from the United States and grew up in a military family. I lived North, South, East, and West in the USA and in Europe, attending 9 schools in 12 years. I attended University in Nova Scotia as I had become best friends with a Canadian whose family was stationed in Virginia Beach at the time. They were transferred to Halifax and I followed suit. I moved back to the Boston area following school and eventually made my way to Toronto and ultimately Orillia. I had worked with marginalized and homeless youth along with gang involved youth at various times in my life.

What made you choose Orillia and become a part of the Orillia Youth Centre?

Honestly, I was dating a woman from Orillia who would eventually become my wife. The opportunity presented itself around that perfect time frame and it all fell into place! Ha ha!

How have you given back to the community since 2012?

The Orillia community has been nothing short of amazing to the Orillia Youth Centre and I would like to think that we’ve given some of that back in some small form. I am not sure we could ever give back to the level of how the Centre has been supported but we have worked incredibly hard to create meaningful programming and community connections. Beyond the amazing programming and pieces that so many of our youth have contributed to in Orillia, the most meaningful contribution has been the creation of the Valis Sound Studio and Jake Beers Creative Fund. Born out of the tragedy of losing Nelson Bell and Jake Beers has been the creation of a FREE recording and creative studio along with a fund to support youth in their quest to be creative and address mental health. These two pieces will be here forever moving forward and impacting the lives of youth for generations.

Why do you think it’s important to give back to a community?

It is important for everyone to find that place they belong and what is important to them. Our community is a better place for everyone if we can find time to give back.

What kind of volunteers are you looking for and what experience would you need?

For those looking to get involved at the Orillia Youth Centre it is pretty easy. Connect with us and we can have a chat. Everyone offers something unique, so never think you do not have something to offer. The “donation” of time is invaluable to organizations such as ours. All of that being said COVID has created havoc on our volunteering opportunities, and we are hopeful to be moving in a direction in which that is slowly changing.

If you had to pick one free event that the Orillia Youth Centre hosts, what would it be and why?

Opportunities for youth and what engages each of them is so different. An art night might mean so much to one youth while a cooking program might be what excites another. That being said, the ability to offer a safe supervised space to a youth who just wants to “hang out” and chat might be the difference that a youth needs on that night.

What does Kevin like to do in his free time?

I absolutely love music and getting outside hiking year-round.

If you had any words of encouragement or advice for someone thinking of volunteering or donating their time to the community what would they be?

Find what interest you. The opportunity to get involved somewhere, to encounter like-minded individuals OR stepping outside your comfort zone, is such a rewarding feeling. I always say to youth or those looking to volunteer that it is something that makes you feel good!

The Youth Centre is located at 9 Front Street South in Orillia and is open Monday-Friday 3pm-8:30pm, Saturday 2:00pm-8:00pm and Sunday Noon-4:00pm.  For more information on The Orillia Youth Centre, we encourage you join them on their social platforms below.

Facebook: Orilla Youth Centre
Instagram:  orilliayouthcentre
Twitter:  OrilliaYC