Foundry opens its doors to youth in Squamish

Young people in Squamish and surrounding communities will have access to more mental-health and addiction services with the opening of the Foundry centre’s permanent location in town. The centre is operated by Sea to Sky Community Services and is now operational at 38646 Buckley Ave.

Foundry Sea to Sky will provide young people from 12 to 24 and their families free and confidential services to fit their unique needs, such as mental-health and substance-use support, youth peer support and social services, and wellness programs.

Jaye Russell, executive director, Sea to Sky Community Services Society, said feelings of isolation, eating disorders and attempted suicides among youth have increased in recent years. “Our youth need local resources now and that’s why Foundry Sea to Sky is the perfect complement to the more than 40 programs and services offered by Sea to Sky Community Services,” she said. “The opening of Foundry Sea to Sky has been a true community journey, where together we are walking alongside young people to provide them with the programs and supports they need to thrive here in the Sea to Sky.”

There are 15 Foundry centres open throughout the province in Vancouver-Granville, North Shore (North Vancouver), Campbell River, Ridge Meadows, Abbotsford, Kelowna, Prince George, Victoria, Penticton, Terrace, Comox Valley, Langley, Richmond and Cariboo-Chilcotin (Williams Lake) and Squamish.

An additional eight new Foundry centres are in development in Burns Lake, East Kootenay (Cranbrook), Port Hardy, Surrey, Fort St. John, Tri-Cities, Kamloops and on the Sunshine Coast. Foundry services can also be accessed from anywhere through the Foundry BC app, phone or at: foundrybc.ca/virtual

“Nearly 50% of youth in the Sea to Sky corridor indicated that they didn’t know who and where to turn to for mental-health support,” said Karen Tee, associate executive director, Foundry. “At Foundry, we have an unwavering vision to make mental-health and wellness services as accessible as possible for young people. Foundry Sea to Sky is bringing us one step closer to accomplishing our dream to transform the quality of life for youth across the province.”