Foundry BC marks 10 years of youth support as Fort St. John centre moves through development

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Foundry BC is celebrating a decade of service, as work continues toward opening a Foundry centre in Fort St. John.

To recognize its anniversary, Foundry has launched ‘10 years, 10 stories, 10 voices,’ a campaign highlighting the stories of youth, families and health professionals connected to its services. 

The organization has also refreshed its website in an effort to make it easier for young people to find help, locate a centre or download its app.

Minister of Health Josie Osborne said the milestone reflects years of collaboration between health authorities, community agencies and donors.

“For a decade, Foundry has been a place where young people can find understanding, hope and connection,” Osborne said. 

“As we celebrate Foundry’s 10-year anniversary, we honour the courage of young people who reach out for help, and the dedicated teams who meet them with care and compassion every day.”

According to Foundry BC, more than 17,000 young people accessed Foundry services over 83,000 visits in the 2024-25 fiscal year alone, nearly half of them first-time users.

Foundry currently operates 19 centres across the province, with 16 more in development, including a future location planned for Fort St. John, which was first announced in 2022.

According to the community development and project lead with Foundry Fort St. John, Asuncion Sta Maria, who spoke with Energeticcity.ca in July, the new health and wellness centre will be around 6,000-7,000 square feet and provide services for people aged 12 to 24, their families and caregivers. 

“Services at the future Foundry Fort St. John may include physical and sexual healthcare, mental health support, substance use services, peer support and social services,” said Sta Maria.

More information on Foundry BC’s services can be found on its website.