Teen Room

Learn all about Jean Augustine Centre's brand new Teen Space for young women ages 14-17.

About the Teen Room

Welcome to the Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women’s Empowerment’s brand new teen space!

We’ve been working behind-the-scenes to transform an industrial room into a vibrant space for teen girls to hang out and thrive!

Our teen participants voiced a desire for a space that recognizes their needs as young women and fosters their sense of independence, individuality, and unique capabilities.

We listened.

Now, with a generous grant and project direction from the Interior Designers of Canada, we completed the revitalization of 1,178 sq. ft. of space to create a new dedicated room for our teen participants.

Picture showing the newly appointed Teen Room.

Hear from our Partners, Staff, and Participants

Melissa Tossell

“[Teens] have the most stress going on in their lives and we’re creating a space where they […] can just relax and have a safe space just to be.”

Picture of teen participant smiling at the camera and making a peace sign.

Shaaliny

“I’m really excited […] to do programs there, also spend time with my friends, do homework, and see where I get there [the Teen Room].”

Before & After

Turning an under-utilized area into an exceptional space exclusively for young women required a reimagining of the space. To see the potential and make it shine.

Before

After

We want this new space to be more than just a room. It will be a place where young women can come together, relax, express themselves, and participate in programs designed specifically for them. A place to be themselves, build friendships, and feel inspired.

From social gatherings to thought-provoking workshops, this space is dedicated to fostering growth, confidence, and knowledge in every young woman who walks through our doors.

We can’t wait to welcome you!

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this room for and how will it be used?

This newly renovated space will be exclusively for teen girls currently in high school. Teens will be welcome to drop into the Centre after school to unwind and spend time with friends. They’ll have access to wifi and snacks. We’ll continue offering options for workshops and programs that answer their questions and needs.

Why a teen room?

Teens require space to discover themselves as individuals and build their confidence to become secure, independent adults. Often referred to as a third space, outside of home and school, this room will give young women a dedicated space of their own.

By creating an exclusive teen room, we hope to provide a safe space after school for the young women in our community to build friendships, receive programs and find a supportive community which will contribute to their improved mental health, academic performance, and social development.

What did the renovation consist of?

Tucked away from our main programming space, the new teen room will offer our older participants a secluded space to enjoy downtime after school with friends, complete homework, and access services tailored specifically for them.

The space will be a multi-purpose hub, with full access WIFI, comfy couches, eating area, desk space for homework, and so much more.

Our Partners

The creation of our new teen room would not be possible without the support of a generous grant and the vision from our design partners, Interior Designers of Canada.

Special thanks to Lead Designer Melissa Tossell and Jaenelle Murrell from Aurora Design for bringing beauty, purpose, and function to our space and a room of their own to our teens.

We also thank the following organizations for their generous contributions to our project.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this space come to life and for showing our teens the community of people who will show up for them and cheer them on as they grow.