Kitchener teens share what they need from the community to stay and thrive

Kaelyn Klassen Jacobs worries about whether life will be affordable after high school graduation.

The Grade 10 student at Eastwood Collegiate Institute in Kitchener says the cost of living — and the price of food in particular — is scary.

"Fruit is expensive," Klassen Jacobs said. "I don't wanna be thinking about moving out and not be able to afford anything. I want to be able to live comfortably."

The high school is near a shelter for people experiencing homelessness and it has made Klassen Jacobs stop to think about why there are people in the city who don't have a place to call home.

"In a community, people shouldn't be treated that way," Klassen Jacobs said. "I think a community should involve everyone being treated equally."

Klassen Jacobs and classmates spoke with CBC Kitchener-Waterloo as part of the broadcaster's 10th anniversary  coverage. They were asked what they need from their city to succeed here.

When asked what a community needs to provide people, Darcei Watson-Green had one word: support.

"Even if [people] disagree with the way you think, the way you act, talk, look, whatever it is, I think just knowing that they're not going to judge you," Watson-Green said.

"Just knowing that they're not going to act on it or speak about it, just knowing that they're just going to live beside you in your community and knowing that they're not going to interfere with your lifestyle and everything like that."

Spaces for people to feel equal

Talyn Turenne said the city — and society as a whole — is in a transitional period when it comes to accepting others, so more understanding and education "about people who don't really fit the mould of what people expect" is needed.

"Especially in Canada where we have gay rights and immigration policies," Turenne said.

We like that we have a diverse community, despite the fact that, like, well, I know a couple cities over here that are pretty straight, white, able-bodied — so more education on that subject so it's not considered a hush topic."

Davey Cunningham says there's a need for more equality spaces in the region.

Community is "groups of people all coming together to despite their differences, despite race, gender, sexuality, all coming together to celebrate something or make something that is better for everybody," Cunningham said, adding there needs to be more opportunities for the community, including schools, to hear from diverse voices.

Schools are a place "for teenagers to learn and grow," Cunningham said.

Fun factor

But that doesn't mean they can ignore fun. Cunningham said, adding social activities would also be welcome, like a community fair with rides.

"I feel like there's a lot of pressure put on teenagers now to be adults, to be grown up already," Cunningham said. 

"[Teenagers] should be able to have fun. They should be able to make mistakes and learn from them and grow and have the freedom to just be a teenager."

For Mason Bakewell, there's a need to feel safe and loved.

"As a teenager in this generation, in this community, at my school or in Waterloo or in anywhere, I don't see it as often as what I did when I was younger, right? I think it's drifted and I don't think people value it as much," Bakewell said.

"I think teens are struggling without that sense of community, without that sense of safety, with not having anything. I think teens need a lot of support from everyone around them and I don't think they're getting it."