Sydney Goodreau/The Herald
In 1998, a group of concerned citizens in Dresden realized the youth in town were not “hanging out,” said Lori Ouellette. “The kids said they had no cars to go and nothing to do.” Two years later, in 2002, the Dresden Sidestreets Youth Centre opened to fix that.
“Its mission and goal are to make sure the kids are provided with a safe environment, a place that they can call their own,” said Ouellette, a volunteer with Sidestreets since 2004 and current board president. 
July 2025 marked the charity’s 25th anniversary. It has gone through many changes over the years. Sidestreets operated out of several different buildings in downtown Dresden. Age trends also changed. 
“Going back to 2000, there were more older kids here then. And then it kind of turned, and there were younger kids, and then it turned, and now 10 to 14 is our average age.”
Finances are one of the biggest challenges Sidestreets has faced over the course of its 25 years of operation. To fundraise, the charity holds rotary barbecues on Thursdays, eight times a year. Additionally, Ouellette said, “We get some of the proceeds from whatever they make at the Night Market, and that helps us keep going.”
As Sidestreets looks to the future, Ouellette, Tracy Keirsebilck, the board vice president, and other volunteers are excited to offer new programs for the kids. 
“We just got a grant two years ago and we got our kitchen done,” said Ouellette. “Now we have a cooking program. We’ve also teamed up with the library, and once a month, the library does a fun night here. And then a lady named Veronica does a watercolour night. We’re always looking for new programs for the kids.”
That is where the heart of Sidestreets lies: with the kids. 
“I’m proud of all the kids. A lot of the kids that have come have become nurses, and some people have come back to volunteer,” said Ouellette.