Foundry Center in Tri-Cities On July 19th 2022, Sheila Malcomson (BC Minister of Mental Health and Addictions) announced that TriCities youth would soon have access to much needed support with the opening of the newest Foundry Centre in BC.

Selina Robinson (MLA for Coquitlam-Mallardville and BC Minister of Finance) opens the event by inviting Chief Ed Hall (kʷikʷəƛ̓əm First Nation) and Ernie Cardinal (Youth Services Manager – Spirit of the Children Society) onstage.

Ernie sings and drums a traditional Cherokee song and Chief Ed Hall acknowledges the advocates and elected representatives in the room before opening the event in the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language.

Minister Malcomson (BC Minister of Mental Health and Addictions) announces that the TriCities will be the next host of a Foundry Centre for Youth. This is the result of work done by local advocates and the deep need for more youth services in the area.

Youth between 12-24 and their families will be able to get free, confidential, age-friendly mental health, substance use, primary and sexual health care, peer support, and counselling. These life-changing services will be available both in-person and virtually.

Karen Tee (Associate Executive Director of Foundry) shares that the Fraser Region has the largest and fastest growing population of young people in BC and the opening of a Foundry Centre will help to fill the great need for youth services.

Claire MacLean (Chief Executive Officer of Share Family and Community Services) highlights how awareness around drugs, sexual exploitation, racism, gender identity and sexual preferences, and climate change has changed and how youth are often the ones leading change.

Foundry Centres are a way for youth and older adults to work with institutions, governments, health authorities, non-profit organizations, and indigenous organizations with a common focus and goal. The Foundry Centre once opened will be operated by Share.