The County of Prince Edward is celebrating the opening of a new youth-led canteen at the Picton Skate Park, located at the Prince Edward County Fairgrounds.
Greater Than County Youth Collective, a local non-profit organization, is operating the canteen in partnership with the Prince Edward Learning Centre (PELC).
“Greater Than County Youth Collective has been a tremendous partner, not only in activating this space but also in helping young people develop skills, confidence, and connections in our community,” Mayor Steve Ferguson says. “We’re excited to see the canteen come to life and to celebrate an early example of what can happen when organizations work together to create opportunities for youth.”
While the canteen has been operating since July 14, its official opening will take place on Friday, August 7. The canteen offers healthy food for park visitors and gives youth opportunities to gain work experience and develop leadership skills. It also adds something new to the park by providing programs for young people that support mental health, encourage recreation, and share Indigenous knowledge and culture.
The project aligns with the municipality’s ongoing Youth Engagement Strategy work. Over the past year, the municipality has been working with youth, community organizations and local partners to identify priorities and opportunities to improve youth well-being, civic participation, and community belonging.
In discussions with youth, many identified a canteen at the skate park as a priority. Through the Request for Quotes (RFQ) process of finding a partner to operate the canteen, the municipality prioritized youth-focused outcomes in addition to the traditional food and beverage service.
The opening of the canteen represents an early success in turning youth feedback into action. Several additional actions identified through the youth engagement work are already underway, including:
- Launching @PECYouth on Instagram to share youth events, opportunities, and activities
- Introducing free transit for high school students to improve access to programs, services, employment, and community spaces
- Collaborating with community partners through the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan to host the second annual youth-focused mental health resource fair at Prince Edward Collegiate Institute (PECI)
Constructed when the skate park was originally developed, the canteen building has remained vacant for several years. Following a competitive RFQ process this past spring, Greater Than County Youth Collective was selected to operate the space under a three-year agreement. Their proposal stood out for its commitment to creating youth employment opportunities, fostering leadership skills, and providing programming that encourages community connection.
The canteen is open seasonally and will operate 10 am – 4 pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday through October 2026.
