Spencer Zumpano moved to the Highlands in the fall of 2023, finding the Haliburton County Youth Wellness Hub shortly after.
Now a peer mentor who sits on youth hub committees, Zumpano said, “I come here as often as I can. I even come early sometimes because I love it here. It is honestly my safe space.
Zumpano has noticed, though, that it gets loud in the common room shared by youth. Some kids might want to play Dungeons and Dragons but not so openly in front of other youth. Others might quietly want to do homework, but the quiet might be lacking.
“I think having more space would help with learning, like doing homework for example. There isn’t a quiet space that kids can go to if they’re overwhelmed and just need some time to cool off. It’s one big area where everyone is and it can get overwhelming and loud,” he said.
Point in Time executive director Marg Cox said the number of youth coming to the hub for skills and wellbeing activities, or to access other support and services, is growing exponentially “and our space is no longer meeting the needs of youth in our community. We need to expand.”
Cox said the number of visits for services has grown from 440 in 2020-21 to 879 in 2024-25; the number of youth from 139 to 163, and number of visits for skills and wellbeing activities from 593 to 2,292.
Point in Time is presenting an evening with Kael Reid Sept. 13 in Haliburton, with proceeds going towards the expansion of the hub. Cox said it was “one step in many steps to come towards raising money for a youth hub expansion.”
Reid is an assistant professor in children, childhood, and youth studies in the department of humanities, faculty of liberal arts and professional studies at York University in Toronto.
They will be giving a songwriting and sharing workshop to youth between noon to 2 p.m., before an evening concert.
Reid, described as a “queer folksinger and recording artist,” last did programming in the Highlands in 2013.
“With the youth hub, I really think it’s important for, especially marginalized youth, having places to go that are welcoming and safe and offer the kinds of programming they might not be getting in school or at home,” they said.
The concert is Sept. 13, 7-9 p.m. at the Music Room at Castle, at 223 Highland St. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. They can be purchased at point in Time, The Music Room at Castle, Foodland Haliburton, Glecoff’s Haliburton, Agnew’s General Store in Wilberforce and Molly’s Bistro Bakery in Minden.
