(Vancouver, B.C.) – An extraordinary gift has landed in downtown Vancouver that will change the landscape of youth mental health and substance use care across British Columbia. An entire four-storey building has been donated to St. Paul’s Foundation for use by Foundry, a province-wide network that provides free, confidential, integrated health and wellness services to young people aged 12–24.
Today, January 8, Foundry is unveiling its new building, which is set to become the future home of B.C.’s most comprehensive youth wellness centre. The building, located at 1220 Homer Street, was generously donated by a private foundation that prefers not to be named. The gift is valued at over $13.8 million.
The building now requires a multi-million dollar renovation to bring the vision to life and dramatically expand care for youth. The B.C. government has already committed $1.5 million, while the federal government is supporting the initiative through the Youth Mental Health Fund. St. Paul’s Foundation is leading the fundraising effort and aims to raise $7 million over the next year.
"We have an opportunity to provide twice as much room for life-changing services,” says Steve Mathias, Executive Director at Foundry. “This means more room for group therapy, life-skills programming, and life-saving mental health and substance use care support to connect and decrease social isolation. This building makes all of that possible."
"Foundry has always been there for me,” says Amanda Horne, Peer Support Worker and former Foundry client. “From being a former client at ICY and watching it evolve into Foundry, to now working as an employee, I am immensely grateful for all the support I have received. As a client, Foundry helped me learn to understand and manage my diagnosis to the best of my ability, which helped me become a better version of myself. Now, working with youth, I feel privileged to be able to give back what was so given to me."
The new building is expected to open in late 2026, allowing Foundry to double the space of its decade-old downtown location at Granville and Drake, where rising demand has outgrown capacity. In a first for Foundry, the centre will also bring its research and evaluation team under the same roof as frontline services.
The expanded location on Homer Street will play a pivotal role in Foundry’s mandate to grow 35 centres across B.C. by 2028.
A Critical Moment for Youth Mental Health
The building comes at a time when youth mental health challenges are escalating across the province. Across Canada and here in B.C., the data paints a concerning picture:
- 1 in 4 youth in Canada aged 15–24 are affected by mental health or substance use challenges
(Source: Health Canada — Mental Health and Access to Care Survey, 2022) - Toxic drug overdoses are the leading cause of death among youth in B.C. aged 10–19
(Source: Public Health Agency of Canada, 2022) - 50% of youth accessing Foundry report thinking about suicide in the past 90 days
(Source: Foundry)
Philanthropic Support Needed
This building donation gives Foundry a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rewrite the future of youth mental health care in Vancouver—an impact that will ripple across B.C. and beyond. With $7 million in additional community support secured to renovate the space, the new centre will open its doors to thousands of young people who would otherwise go without care.
In a statement, the donor who prefers not to be named shared:
"Our mission is to help those who help others, and the team at Foundry are exactly those people. Their strong, compassionate leadership recognizes not only the need but the incredible opportunity that comes from providing integrated healthcare and mental health support to youth in a peer-focused environment. When we first met the team, we were struck by how deeply they care, and then by how much they know. That’s when we realized our support would make a truly meaningful impact."
"We are proud to partner with Foundry and Providence Health Care to bring this visionary project to life,” says Sheila Biggers, President and CEO of St. Paul’s Foundation. “This milestone marks an exciting chapter in transforming youth mental health and wellness in our province, and sets a powerful precedent for Canada. Together, we are building a future for young people to gain greater access to the care and support they need during the most pivotal time of their lives."
"This exciting new space will bring Foundry Vancouver Granville and the Foundry central office and research team together in one place, strengthening Providence Health Care’s work in youth mental health,” says Fiona Dalton, President and CEO of Providence Health Care. “Thanks to a donor, this new space will help twice as many young people in Vancouver. Most importantly, it gives youth a safe place to get support when they need it most."
"Young people today face a significant amount of stress in an ever-changing world, and they deserve a safe place to turn when the weight of it all becomes too much to carry alone,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “This new Foundry location is expanding access to timely, youth-friendly supports in Vancouver, ensuring youth can get the help they need, when they need it, close to home."
About Foundry
Foundry offers free and confidential support for mental health, substance use health, physical and sexual healthcare, youth and family peer support, and work and education support for B.C. youth aged 12–24 and their families/caregivers. No referrals or assessments are required. Services are available in person at local centres or virtually anywhere in B.C.
Foundry Vancouver Downtown, Foundry Virtual BC, and Foundry Central Office are operated by Providence Health Care (PHC).
As part of its provincial strategy to improve mental health and addictions care for young people, the Government of British Columbia provides one-time start-up funding to establish Foundry centres and ongoing core funding for service delivery and operations. The federal government is supporting this initiative through the Youth Mental Health Fund, with $10 million over five years to support network expansion.
About St. Paul’s Foundation
St. Paul’s Foundation raises funds to support compassionate, inspired care at Providence Health Care, including St. Paul’s Hospital, Providence Living, and Foundry BC. Through fundraising and strategic partnerships, the Foundation advances capital projects, groundbreaking research, and enhanced care across British Columbia.
Learn more or donate here.
Media Contacts
Jeremy Hunka jeremy@jeremyhunka.com 778.710.0329