There's an effort underway to transform the former Quetico Centre near Atikokan into a training facility for Aboriginal youth.

The president of Hopelink International, a Toronto-based humanitarian organization, said he hopes to establish an addictions treatment program on-site in addition to a jobs training centre, as there's an urgent need for both.

Quetico Centre near Atikokan was once a think-tank retreat for the north. The centre is poised to morph into an Aboriginal training and healing centre. (cvevent.com)

"The lack of training is also a crisis because if we don't prepare these young people for these jobs that will be there in two-three-four years, then young people from other countries even now are being recruited,” Bob Simpson said.

Simpson said he hopes the federal government will kick in $10 million for the Quetico Centre project — which he calls the Aboriginal Centre of Excellence at Quetico — and has already submitted an application for funding.

If plans proceed, the idea is to have the centre open by April. It would be able to house about 50 people in the training school, and another 40 in the treatment centre (which would be a separate residence) and would run in partnership with the Meno-Ya-Win Health Centre in Sioux Lookout.

'Win-win' situation

Bob Simpson,(right) with HopeLink International, has big plans for the former Quetico Centre, 200 km west of Thunder Bay. He's shown here with Independent First Nation Alliance education advisor Richard Morris. (Jody Porter/CBC News)

The centre would provide culturally sensitive training to prepare young people for jobs in industries such as mining. A proposed list of training opportunities includes trades, forestry, tourism, and community fiscal management.

"And some of the young people in for treatment would eventually come back for the training, in a short period of time,” Simpson added. “So it's a win-win situation."

Simpson hopes to work in partnership with government, other non-government organzations, businesses and First Nations.

The project organizers plan to hold a renovation camp and a sports camp in the summer. During these camps, young aboriginal people could help renovate the centre, working with mentors. Those who love athletics could potentially also train with Olympic athletes. The "sweat equity" camps would run for two weeks each summer for the next three years.

"We're communicating with the federal government, right with the Prime Minister himself, and told him about this centre that would empower the youth of the north,” Simpson said. “It looks very good there."