OneSky Community Resources is bringing expanded youth mental health and wellness services closer to home with the opening of a new Foundry location in Summerland. This new site is part of a provincewide expansion designed to improve access to timely, integrated supports for young people aged 12 to 24 and the adults who care for them.
The Summerland Foundry will operate as a community-based location connected to Foundry Penticton, allowing local youth to receive support without traveling out of town. Services will be free, confidential, and low barrier, making it easier to reach help early and consistently. Offered supports will include drop-in counselling, peer support, primary health and sexual health care, group programming, and help with education and employment goals.
This investment comes at a critical time. Community leaders in Summerland have spoken openly about the increasing pressures facing young people, including social isolation, anxiety, and the long-term impacts of recent crises. In an opinion piece published earlier this spring, Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes highlighted the importance of building a coordinated network of supports and confirmed that provincial funding has been approved for OneSky to open a Foundry Centre in the community.
The Province of British Columbia is contributing $1.7 million to expand Foundry services into smaller communities like Summerland, with the goal of ensuring youth can connect with care earlier and closer to where they live. By working alongside families, schools, and local partners, OneSky aims to shape services that genuinely reflect community needs.
We’re so grateful for the ongoing support of our partners, the school district, and the community of Summerland – without them, this milestone wouldn’t have been possible.
To learn more, please see these related releases:
Opinion piece by Summerland Mayor, Doug Holmes, for Castanet
