Facility delivers mental-health, substance-use and wellness supports for Tri-Cities youth, families.
Summary
- Foundry Tri-Cities, now open at 400-2755 Lougheed Hwy. in Port Coquitlam, offers free, confidential supports for young people 12 to 24
- Services include access to drop-in counselling, peer support, physical and sexual health care, and help with education and employment
- The centre is operated by SHARE Family & Community Services Society with provincial funding as part of B.C.’s commitment to expand youth mental-health services
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Foundry Tri-Cities is now open at 400-2755 Lougheed Hwy., offering free mental-health, substance-use and wellness supports for young people 12 to 24 and their families.
“The opening of Foundry Tri-Cities is a milestone for youth mental health-care in the region,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “This centre brings together services in one location, making it easier for young people to find support in a safe, welcoming space. It’s the result of strong collaboration between government, community partners, youth and families.”
Integrated services for youth and families
Foundry Tri-Cities provides free, confidential and low-barrier supports designed to meet the unique needs of young people. Services include drop-in counselling, peer support, physical and sexual health care, substance-use support and help with work and education. Youth can walk into the centre to access services or book in advance through the Foundry B.C. app.
What can youth expect at Foundry?
- a welcoming, judgment-free space for youth and families
- co-created with input from young people and community partners
- access to drop-in counselling, peer support, physical and sexual health care, and support with work and education
- multilingual staff offering culturally informed assistance in several languages
- support for parents and caregivers
Why this matters
Youth can face barriers when seeking help. Foundry Tri-Cities aims to remove those barriers by offering integrated services in one location, reducing stigma and improving access to timely care. This centre is operated by SHARE Family & Community Services Society with provincial funding. Additional support is provided by the federal government through Health Canada’s Youth Mental Health Fund and through community partners and donors.
The Province is committed to expanding Foundry locations and services across B.C. Enhancing supports for youth living with mental-health and substance-use challenges is an integral part of creating a seamless continuum of care for all people in B.C.
Learn more:
- To learn how B.C. is building better mental-health and addictions care, visit: https://gov.bc.ca/BetterCare
- To learn more about Foundry, visit: https://foundrybc.ca/
- To learn more or access virtual Foundry services, download the Foundry B.C. app or visit: https://foundrybc.ca/virtual
Three backgrounders follow.
Backgrounders
Foundry centres throughout British Columbia
There are 20 Foundry centres in operation in British Columbia:
- Vancouver-Granville
- North Shore (North Vancouver)
- Campbell River
- Abbotsford
- Ridge Meadows
- Kelowna
- Prince George
- Victoria
- Penticton
- Terrace
- Burns Lake
- Comox Valley
- Langley
- Richmond
- Cariboo-Chilcotin (Williams Lake)
- Sea to Sky (Squamish)
- Port Hardy
- Surrey Central
- Tri-Cities
- East Kootenay (Cranbrook)
There are also five satellite locations:
- Pemberton
- West Kelowna
- Summerland
- 100 Mile House
- Port McNeill
Fifteen more Foundry centres are in development:
- Burnaby
- Chilliwack
- Fort St. John
- Kamloops
- Snuneymuxw (Nanaimo)
- Port Alberni
- qathet (Powell River)
- Quesnel
- West Shore
- Sunshine Coast
- South Surrey–White Rock
- Vancouver
- Vanderhoof
- North Okanagan (Vernon)
- Kootenay Boundary
Health Canada’s Youth Mental Health Fund is providing $10 million over five years to support the expansion of the Foundry network, including projects such as Foundry Tri-Cities.
What people are saying about Foundry Tri-Cities
Jodie Wickens, Minister of Children and Family Development –
“The opening of Foundry Tri-Cities is an exciting milestone for young people and families in the region. This welcoming, youth-centred space makes it easier to reach out, connect and get support without judgment or barriers. By bringing free mental-health, substance-use and wellness services together under one roof, we’re making sure young people get the care they need when they need it, so they can live a good life and be their best self.”
Amna Shah, parliamentary secretary for mental health and addictions –
“Too often, youth face barriers when reaching out for help. Foundry Tri-Cities changes that by providing free, same-day access to counselling, peer support and health care in one convenient location. This centre will help young people feel seen, supported and connected to the resources they need to thrive.”
Jennifer Blatherwick, MLA for Coquitlam-Maillardville –
“Foundry Tri-Cities is a powerful addition to our community. When young people have a safe place to turn for support, it strengthens all of us.”
Claire MacLean, CEO, SHARE Family & Community Services Society –
“SHARE is grateful to more than 20 community partners who worked tirelessly to make Foundry Tri-Cities a reality.”
Tessa Obedzinski, Foundry Tri-Cities youth advisory table member –
“Youth finally have a safe space to not only feel comfortable but feel seen.”
Carol Todd, mother and founder, Amanda Todd Legacy Society –
“The opening of Foundry Tri‑Cities is profoundly important because it creates a centralized, youth‑friendly space where young people can access mental‑health resources, social supports and community care without barriers.”
Karen Tee, co-executive director, Foundry –
“The opening of Foundry Tri-Cities marks an important step in our commitment to supporting young people and families across British Columbia.”
Ron McKinnon, MP, Coquitlam–Port Coquitlam –
“Foundry Tri-Cities reflects exactly the kind of integrated, community-based care the Youth Mental Health Fund was designed to support.”
Zoe Royer, MP, Port Moody–Coquitlam –
“For young people and their families in the Tri-Cities and the region, this centre will create a welcoming place to access compassionate mental-health supports.”
Dermot Kelly, president and CEO, Fraser Health –
“Supporting young people is a shared responsibility, and strong partnerships are essential to making care more accessible. By working closely with community partners and providing specialized clinical support, our compassionate Fraser Health team helps ensure that youth can quickly connect with the services and programs that best meet their needs. We are grateful to everyone whose collaboration helped make this centre a reality for the Tri-Cities.”
Foundry Tri-Cities: questions and answers
Foundry Tri-Cities offers integrated mental-health and wellness services for youth in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra.
What is Foundry Tri-Cities?
Foundry Tri-Cities is a new centre offering free, confidential and low-barrier services for youth aged 12 to 24 and their families.
What services are available?
- Drop-in counselling and peer support
- Physical and sexual health care
- Substance-use prevention and treatment
- Support with education and employment
- Family peer support
- Groups and workshops for youth and families
- Virtual services through the Foundry B.C. app
Where is it located?
Services are available in person at 400–2755 Lougheed Hwy., Port Coquitlam, and online at https://foundrybc.ca/.
Who operates the centre?
Foundry Tri-Cities is operated by SHARE Family & Community Services Society in partnership with Fraser Health Authority and community partners.
How is it funded?
Foundry Tri-Cities is funded through the Province of B.C., Health Canada and community donors.
Why is this important?
Youth face barriers when seeking mental-health care. Foundry Tri-Cities removes those barriers by offering integrated services in one convenient location.
How does this fit into B.C.’s plan?
Foundry Tri-Cities is part of a growing network of 20 centres across B.C., with 15 more in development.
Translations
Translation files are incoming and will be available shortly.
