Phone : 780.289.1803

The Simon Poultney Foundation

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Young Lions Media Centre

Simon had a specific vision of a place where youth and young adults could hang out, experience community and explore their gifts in music, film-making, writing and art.  We all have an innate artistic talent but his experience was there are not enough resources for young people to pursue their interests in those areas. Outside of regular school most extra-mural programs are focused on recreational/sporting activities which often do not appeal to those with an artistic leaning.  The notion that these days we all have ready access to all types of technology is also a misnomer. Whilst many schools and households do have current technology and equipment, the use of these is still very restricted by hours of operation, family rules or simply lack of mentoring in the use of it.

Simon's dream was to buy an older house where he would live on the main floor and devote the living space and basement to his media project.  Thus the concept became commonly known as "The Media House".  Our dream is still to have it based in a house but for the time being we have made a humble start.

At the beginning of May 2006 the Young Lions Media centre was launched in the basement of Real Deal store at 101A Main Street, Spruce Grove providing video filming and editing and still photography using some equipment on loan and some donated.

Young Lions Media logo and Keith MacIsaac makes first use of the equipment
to edit his movies for the Young Life film festival

As its first major project YLM was pleased to partner with Parkland Young Life in the organizing and running of their Fifth Annual Film Festival which took place on Wednesday June 21, 2006 at the Horizon Stage.

During the summer months our young volunteers attended many of the "Summer in the City" activities organized by the City of Spruce Grove Family and Community Support Services where they filmed the activities.  The material was edited into a highlights video which was presented at the FCSS's block party in Spruce Grove on September 24th and much enjoyed by everyone.

YLM also completed a digital archiving project in partnership with Family and Community Twining Society (FACTS) during the summer months and have ongoing discussions for further projects with FACTS.

In December 2006 the media centre was moved to donated space in the Spruce Grove Community Church at 180 Century Road, Spruce Grove. 

There are a number of projects in the planning stages and will involve local youth as they get under way.  These projects will provide fund-raising opportunities to support the equipment needs and operations of the media centre.

Our future plans include holding further film festivals and art shows to enable users of the Media centre to showcase their work in the community.  Another goal is to find more space to be able to include a full selection of musical instruments and a recording studio for both music and film.

Note : Simon loved lions and he often talked about calling his organization "Young Lions".  Thus we have chosen to call this operation of SPF "Young Lions Media".

If you are interested in volunteering at the centre as mentor to other teenagers to learn how to make and edit movies or to help with some media projects that we already have to work on, please contact us via e-mail or at 289-1803.