A wonderful neighborhood with a low crime rate, everything is beautiful what could be wrong? The kids go to school is that not enough? Kids come out of school what do they do? That is a great question how can kids do something fun without resorting to drugs or mischief.

Adults have bars and clubs and many recreations that keep them occupied a good portion of the time. There should be an equal basis for youth as well, that's not saying they should be aloud to go to bars, but should have some stimulation in their lives. Big malls are needed because teenagers love to shop, and not strip malls they don't classify as fun. Movie theaters come in handy on a rainy day when there is nothing else to do. Youth should have special designated zones where they can play street hockey legally. Skateboard parks can be erected so that kids may perform tricks and have some leisure. Roller-blading paths can be made since it is illegal to use them on city sidewalks. Hang out spots can be made strictly for kids to gather and chill out. There could be basketball matches set up in the outside courts, it would teach kids to enjoy their outside surroundings.

"Youth should have special designated zones..."

Adults think a television is enough or a computer can take away boredom. Outside activity will always be a better experience then any indoor recreation, weather should not be a factor concerning these activities either. In the wintertime there can be designated toboggan hills or urban snowmobile pathways that could be used by anyone. Not even rain should be a big factor concerning outdoor activities. Outdoor tents could be created so that even in rain there could be a dry environment and still have the essence of being outside in the fresh air.

A youth friendly environment consists of not only activities but also a attitude from adults, conveying the message that youth are not lesser people because of their age. They should have the same respect for youth that they do for adults. Being friendlier and not treating kids like criminals would potentially make the whole town a youth friendly environment.

"They should have the same respect for youth that they do for adults."

TG/SC has been nominated as The Centre of Excellence for Youth Engagement, and one of our tasks is to make Canada more youth friendly, click here for more information.

"Hi. My name is Sari , and I'm a student. That's right, I'm a STUDENT. Did you get that? I said that I'm a STUDENT. Now then, why must I pay an adult fare? I understand that sir, but I'm a STUDENT. That's S-T-U-D-E-N-T I don't see why you won't let me pay that fare! It says student over there! I'm a student so I should be allowed to pay the student fare! This is an outrage!" This is just a sample of what hundreds of students like myself go through everyday when we try to take public transportation, otherwise known as the TTC, or even the Subway System. As I stated above, I am a student. Ironically enough, when I or my fellow peers try to take the TTC or Subway, we are forced to pay an adult fare! Why do we face this unfair injustice, you may ask? The answer is simple, we go to school in Thornhill and not Toronto.

"This is incredibly unfair and simply ludicrous!"

Thornhill is just north of Toronto, and where I live, it takes me about two minutes to drive to the border of Thornhill and Toronto, which is the street 'Steeles'. Despite this, whenever I try to take one of their buses, they will make me pay an adult fare! This is incredibly unfair and simply ludicrous! Why should it matter where I live? Or where I go to school for that matter? I'm still a student and I still have as many rights as all of those other students that go to school in Toronto! Yet, when I explain this to the driver of the bus or the people at the Subway station, they will not let me pay the proper fare and instead charge me an adult fare which is $2.25! The student fare is $1.50. Does this make any sense? I think not!