Article originally published in the Temiskaming Speaker, April 15, 2026 by Sue Nielsen – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

 

COBALT — The gymnasium at St. Patrick School in Cobalt was bouncing with activity as upwards of 15 local youths enjoyed playing basketball and volleyball during a Planet Youth Timiskaming session on March 31.

The Planet Youth program is a pilot project administered through the Northeastern Public Health (NEPH) Unit, aimed at the prevention of drug and alcohol usage in youth through positive engagement in community programs such as sports, reading and more.

St. Pat’s School is the host site for the Cobalt program, involving youth aged 12-17, who access fun drop-in activities and supports in the community.

Planet Youth volunteer Ken Lillie said it is important for the town’s youth to take part in the program because they don’t have access to recreational facilities and programming found in larger municipalities.

Lillie knows first hand how the program produces positive results.

He offered a comic book-making workshop at the Cobalt Mining Museum during the March break with 13 participants taking part, funded and supported through the Planet Youth program.

“(It) allows area youth to join fun events like open gym nights, gaming sessions or creative arts workshops,” noted Lillie.

Anyone can drop in at the St. Pat sessions, there is no need for prior registration.

The Planet Youth program rotates from school to school and community spaces around the Timiskaming region.

Planet Youth Timiskaming is a key part of the Timiskaming Drug and Alcohol strategy, with efforts to control substance abuse.

ICELANDIC MODEL

The Planet Youth program is based on the Icelandic prevention model, an internationally recognized framework developed more than two decades ago. The model was credited with a dramatic public health turnaround in Iceland, where youth substance use rates fell from nearly half of all young people to fewer than five per cent by 2023.

Coordinated by NEPH, the program focuses on reinforcing protective factors for youth, including strong family connections, positive peer relationships, participation in organized sports and cultural activities and active engagement in school life.

The program was bolstered by data from a survey conducted with Grade 10 and 11 students across the district, with an 83 per cent response rate from the students.

ACTIVITY FUND

The financial costs of hosting Planet Youth activities is covered under the Youth Activity Fund, which has funded 28 initiatives across the district contributing $28,250 to communities to increase the number of activities geared towards youth, improve access to fun, engaging activities and help youth participate and connect with their own community.

But don’t worry, parents and caregivers aren’t being left behind. There are also parent cafés led by parents for parents providing spaces for them to connect, share experiences and learn from each other on topics that matter to them and their children.

If you have an idea for a Planet Youth initiative in your community email pyt@neph.ca or check out the Planet Youth Timiskaming Facebook page.