Experts on human relationships all agree that listening is a key component to a healthy relationship.
Whether it be a doctor with a patient, politician and constituent, employer and employee, teacher and student, or parent and child, listening is always a good thing.
Intergenerational mistrust and misunderstanding has marked every generation and understandably so, because we are raised to listen and respect our parents and elders and not vice versa.
When we become the parents and the elders, we expect the same behaviour from our children and younger generations.
We forget the younger generation have their own set of dreams and problems.
Given the demographic realities of Penticton and the rest of Canada, it isn’t surprising the focus of communities and their governments have rested on the older generations.
It is easy to assume youths living in Penticton have access to a multitude of services and activities.
But, if you listen to the youths, you realize this is not entirely the case.
The United Way and the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan have listened and what they heard is in a report that outlines specific concerns and needs raised by youths in the community.
The two groups have joined forces and hope to address, in a concrete fashion, the concerns raised by local youths.
It is time for all residents of Penticton to listen, with respect, and make a concerted effort to make Penticton a better place for all youths, which in turn will make Penticton a better place for everyone.