Donate to support the Penticton Youth Centre and Foundry Penticton
Here at the Foundation, we’re proud to have purchased a 21,000 sq. ft. building to house the Penticton Youth Resource Centre. In this arrangement, we lease to a variety of youth-serving organizations, notably Foundry Penticton. Learn more about the building and the growing number of services on offer!
Services Supporting Youth
Main Floor: Foundry Penticton, operated by One Sky Community Resources, occupies the main floor of the Youth Centre. Foundry works with community partners to bring health and social services together in a single place, making it easier for young people to find the care, connections and support they need.
Foundry’s Core Services:
- Primary Care (Physicians)
- Mental Health Supports
- Substance Use Resources
- Youth and Family Peer Supports
- Social Services
Second Floor: Youth organizations on the 2nd floor consist of: YMCA Jumpstart, ARC Programs, and Ministry of Children & Family Development (MCFD).
Basement: 7,000 sq. ft. of space in the basement is used for additional activities and programs.
How it Started
In 2013, a group of youth came together to address the urgent needs of young people in the community. The YES Project (Youth Engagement Strategy) had three main goals:
- To publicly advocate for the needs of Penticton youth;
- To create and facilitate more free and accessible youth activities and resources;
- To build a youth resource centre.
“We need to de-stigmatize struggle. All youth need help at some point,” said Mia McBryde, a YES Youth Advisor.
The YES Project was supported by a bequest from Mrs. Rohan Crompton-Bell’s estate to the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen and the United Way of the Central and South Okanagan. The Community Foundation was the backbone organization of The YES Project, whose activities are now housed in the Youth Resource Centre through Foundry Penticton.
Two reports were critical to initiating the YES Project. The 2013 Vital Signs Report provided the initial focus on the challenges facing our youth and led to the convening of the committee. After convening the YES Project Committee the Self Esteem Project Report was written to provide clarity and direction for the future of the project.
Into the Future
The purchase of the building will continue to give back in future years. Once the mortgage is paid down, the building’s operating revenue will create $150,000 in annual youth granting.
Youth Centre Progress Report
Learn all about the service providers housed at the Penticton Youth Resource Centre and what’s been happening since its opening in 2019!
