Powell River is getting a new Foundry centre to help young people access health and wellness services.
Foundry Powell River will offer young people aged 12-24 and their families mental-health and addiction support, drop-in counselling, physical and sexual health care, youth and family peer support and social services.
The centre will be operated by the Powell River Child, Youth and Family Services Society. Collette Sinkewicz, youth programs supervisor with the society, says the community is thrilled to be selected for a Foundry. Jeremiah Sweet, a youth in Powell River, agrees and says it will provide a place where young people know they can find a helping hand and feel safe.
Children and youth have faced unprecedented challenges over the past few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, toxic-drug crisis and climate-related emergencies. That’s why the Province is investing $74.9 million through Budget 2023 to open 12 more Foundry centres in B.C., for a total of 35 Foundry centres across the province. Vernon and Powell River are the first two communities that have been selected for a new centre. The process to select the remaining communities will launch in September 2023 and applications will be due by November 2023.
“It brings me enormous joy to see the strides Foundry is continuing to make in realizing its vision of making safe and accessible wellness spaces a living reality for young people in every part of the province, including rural and remote communities,” says Toni Carlton, Foundry’s provincial director for Community, Culture and Connection. “The opening of a Foundry centre in Powell River is a momentous occasion worthy of celebration for the community of Powell River and is a step in the right direction towards prioritizing the health and wellness needs of some of the most vulnerable members of our society.”
The province is providing annual funding for operations and services, and one-time funding of $1.5 million to get it started.
