A local youth organization is continuing to set its sights on offering programs to youth in all of the Yukon’s communities in the coming year.

A total of 17 people attended BYTE’s annual general meeting several weeks ago.

Officials with the organization reviewed its work over the past year and looked ahead to the 2016/2017 operating year.

With a territorial election looming, BYTE, which aims to empower young people, will be adding to its list of activities with a focus on the vote.

“We will be focusing on continuing to spend more time in the communities this upcoming year, offering our MOVE! Youth Ending Violence program and hitting the streets this fall with our Yukon Youth Want campaign – where we talk to youth about the issues important to them ahead of the territorial election,” said Shelby Maunder, the group’s executive director.

The plans follow “a lot of successes to celebrate in the past year,” she said.

She pointed to the This Is Our Arctic photography project that was exhibited across the country. It showcased photographs focused on climate change taken by youth in Inuvik and Old Crow along with a short film produced by youth in Old Crow.

The group’s Healthy Minds workshop also made its way to eight communities in the territory.

The past year also saw the group host its first river camp where seven youth were able to spend three days rafting and doing river rescue training. That program came out of a partnership with Tatenshini Expediting and the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations.

While BYTE did lose some staff (including Maunder’s predecessor) last year, the office is now fully staffed with the new team ready to move forward.

As Maunder noted: “One challenge we faced was saying goodbye to some amazing BYTE staff this past year, but the amazing quality of their work has made the transition smooth.

“Our new team is assembled, and we are looking forward to seeing what we can come up with together.”