Ashnola at The Crossing, a youth treatment centre near Keremeos is expected to reopen when COVID-19 protocols have eased.

(STEVE ARSTAD / iNFOnews.ca)

A youth treatment centre near Keremeos known as Ashnola at the Crossing will be viable again as soon as COVID-19 concerns end but questions remain unanswered as to when it will open and who will operate it.

Provincial Health Services Authority spokesperson Orna Daly says the treatment centre for youth with addictions, which is one of a number of the health authority’s specialized centres, closed in March 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns, contrary to suggestions the facility was closing due to operational issues.

Recently, contractor Pacific Community Resources Society announced on the society’s website they would not be operating the facility after their contract expires on March 31.

"PCRS has reviewed the Request for Proposals posted by PHSA and despite operating this critical program for the past four years with excellent outcomes, there is new criteria that excludes PCRS from consideration," the society said.

"We also believe that the program/staffing model and associated funding levels, and other contractual obligations outlined in the RFP are insufficient to establish and maintain a safe and therapeutic environment for participants which is not in alignment with our agency values."

Daly could offer no details about the present Request for Proposal, other than to say the health authority was "evaluating next steps” in the process.

She said there are definite plans to reopen the facility when it’s safe to do so from a COVID-19 perspective.

Pacific Community Resources Society has operated the specialized youth treatment centre located about six kilometres west of Keremeos for the past four years.

The centre offers addictions treatment for youth people between the ages of 17 to 24 from across the province.

Find past stories on Ashnola at the Crossing here.

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