It has often been said that if you're bored in Prince George, it's your own fault.
It has often been said that there's nothing to do in Prince George, especially for youth.
Whatever the full truth is will be revealed on March 5 at the Civic Centre when TeenFest comes to the city for the first time. Will it be the extravaganza it's been in other major centres around Western Canada or will it be a ghost town?
Part of that answer already leaked.
The trade show aspect of the event is already going gangbusters. It is brimming with businesses, agencies, education programs, employment providers, etc. who want to reach the youth market with their products, services and messages.
The special events and activity stations are also being stocked with games, performers, sports and other fun novelties.
"We do the two things: we give teens a day of fun and entertainment that is totally free and just for them. But we also provide that legacy piece," said TeenFest organizer Ali Berman.
"The basis for what we do is bring together into one place all the community's initiatives, courses, schools, businesses, resources that are aimed at that age group, and the youth can be exposed to all their different products and services and activities and classes and employment opportunities for youth, so even though it is one day of activities in that one setting, it has that lasting impression that helps everyone all year round."
Berman and her husband Wayne co-founded TeenFest four years ago as a response to the realization their three kids were not getting an effective pipeline of information for their demographic - not simply in their hometown of Victoria but back in Toronto from which they moved, or anywhere else in Canada they could find.
They spotted a chance to build something to address that problem.
"When we moved to Victoria we thought it would be easy to get connected, and it wasn't," Berman said. "The more we looked into it, there were bridal shows and seniors shows and industrial trades shows, but nothing for teens where you can really get that segment of the community together. We didn't want to have any regrets about what we could have done for our kids when we had the chance, so we created TeenFest."
It has now become an anticipated annual event in Victoria, Surrey, Nanaimo, Abbotsford and new communities joining all the time. TeenFest is also held in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Kelowna, Kamloops and now here.
"Everywhere we go people always say 'I'm not from here and I wish this was in my area' and 'I wish I had that when I was a kid.' All to often, no matter what the town, teens don't know what's going on in their own community - all the activities, sports and recreation, they don't know about all the resources right around them.
And parents can't always help them with that because its hard to know all that. This brings it all together and shows them what their community has to offer."
On the day of TeenFest, the Civic Centre will be divided into key areas: Health & Wellness, Fashion & Beauty, Life & Education, Careers, Technology & Gaming and Cool Stuff. It is open to people of any age, so parents or smaller siblings or grandparents can attend. It is free admission for the audience.
"No matter what socioeconomic background you come from, you can come here and be engaged, take part in activities and have all the fun everyone else is having," said Berman.
"There is stuff to do and entertainment all day long. It is our mission to always make that a free event."
Anyone wishing to exhibit at the event can call Norm Coyne at 250-562-2441.
A high-performance talent event
One of the main features at any TeenFest is the youth talent showcase. Anyone aged 12-18 can apply to the event's website with a video showing the kind of talent you want to display.
"Whether they sing, dance, do slam poetry, magic tricks, anything, we want people who want to come out and shine," said Berman. "There is no entry fee, you have to send a YouTube link that we will post on Facebook for public feedback, and 12 will be selected to compete live at TeenFest."
For more information, go to the TeenFest Canada website (www.teenfest.ca) under the Contest heading. Please read all rules and consult with parents before applying.
