Forget the gold — Hanover is going for platinum.
In it’s continued quest to be youth friendly — the town is again entering Play Works Ontario’s Youth Friendly Recognition Program.
This year Hanover brought home the silver by meeting 12 of the 16 requirements.
This time around the town hopes to meet all 16 criteria.
Youth Roots Coordinator Krista Klages says it will take a lot of hard work but she feels it is achievable.
The four remaining criteria are — adults championing youth events, community support behind public youth events, having them accessible to those with disabilities and youth using public transit to get to the events.
Klages says work has already begun to address each of these requirements including a possible flat rate taxi fee for youth.
She says Hanover in partnership with Youth Roots is working hard to promote youth and get them involved in the community as much as possible.
Klages says youth have an important role to fill in Hanover and if the community wants these same youth to remain in town when they finish school than they need to feel like they belong.
Youth Council member Alex Coop says adolescents have a higher status in Hanover thanks to all the youth initiatives.
Along with Hanover’s Youth Council and Youth Roots, the town also boasts a Youth Center and several church youth groups.