
Interior of a Foundry Centre in B.C. (Photo via Foundry BC)
Interior Community Services is expected to release more details about the Kamloops Foundry Centre – including a possible location – tomorrow, July 24.
Associate Executive Officer Sadie Hunter says it has been a busy two years ever since ICS was announced as the operator of the facility in Kamloops.
“There has been a lot of work behind the scenes bringing together community members as part of what is known as the anchor table,” Hunter said, on NL Newsday.
“[We’ve got] a youth advisory committee and a family advisory committee to help with early planning stages, because Foundry is really for community, so its built by community, and its community specific.”
Foundry Centres – which exist in several other B.C. communities including Vancouver, Kelowna, Prince George, and Penticton – aim to offer people between the ages of 12 and 24 a number of mental-health and substance-use supports. That includes including drop-in counselling, physical and sexual health care, as well youth and family peer support, and social services.
In addition to in-person services, Foundry also offers virtual services through the Foundry BC app, by phone at 1-833-308-6379, or online here.
“Foundry programming is aimed at youth in five main areas. So we’re working towards what that service delivery will be, specifically in Kamloops, because again its specific to every community,” Hunter said. “In general, it would include mental health, sexual health, personal health like primary care, and a few other components as well.”
“The model for Foundry Kamloops will integrate some of the learnings from those projects [in Kelowna and elsewhere] and the other subsequent phases.”
While the Kamloops Foundry Centre was expected to be operational sometime this year, Hunter says it is now set to be open in 2026. It’s not clear what caused the two year delay, though its likely to do with issues in finding a suitable location downtown.
“Foundry Kamloops is in what is known as phase 4,” Hunter said. “One of the things as you mentioned that we were working towards was finding a location, and we’ve done that now.”
“We’re really excited to bring it to Kamloops and there is such a need for that age demographic because right now there’s not a lot for youth in our community and in the area and the region to access.”
The Provincial Government will pay all operating costs at Foundry Kamloops, while also providing one-time funding of $1 million towards the establishment of the centre.