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February 14, 2025 - 7:00 PM
A new recovery house for youth struggling with addiction in Kelowna plans to use animal therapy to help young people.
The Bridge Youth and Family Services Society is planning to build the Youth Recovery House at 212 Valley Road North just off Glenmore Road, and Kelowna City Council approved zoning amendments on Feb. 10.
“The agricultural setting allows us to offer land-based learning and animal-assisted therapy, both of which are proven to support mental health and recovery. This natural environment fosters healing and provides therapeutic opportunities that are essential to our program,” The Bridge said in its notice to neighbours.
The centre is set to have withdrawal management services, treatment and recovery services, transitional housing, as well as animal assisted therapy working with distressed animals.
“The Bridge Youth and Family Services and The Hall Family Foundation have partnered to help ameliorate this situation in our community. Our concept is to create a friendly and welcoming campus of care for youth experiencing substance use disorders who want to turn their lives around,” an architect working on the project Roger Green wrote in a letter to the city.
City council expressed its complete support for the project at a meeting in January. The next step is to move forward with building permits.
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“I too am very supportive of this text amendment today to allow the use that's needed to support young people on the path to recovery. So very simply, I'm excited to see this continuing to move forward to meet both the council's priorities and the community's as well,” councillor Loyal Wooldridge said in January.
The location on Valley Road North was chosen because it’s a private, discrete location that is still close to services like bus routes and schools. The land has been used for farm animals so it is ideal for the animal assisted therapy service.
“I'm just really proud to be a part of a group that's helping to make this happen today. This is a win-win-win situation,” councillor Charlie Hodge said in January.
The plan is to make the centre like a campus with six houses that would each have five bedrooms. Youth would be able to stay there for several weeks or months.
“The Youth Recovery House is being designed with community safety as a top priority. The facility will be managed by experienced professionals who are dedicated to maintaining a safe, secure and supportive environment both inside and outside the facility. Staff will be on-site 24/7, ensuring that the premises are closely monitored at all times,” The Bridge wrote in its notice.
There's still a ways to go before the centre will be up and running but council’s comments and money raised through community fundraising shows that there's support for it.
“The Youth Recovery House is not just a place for treatment; it is a space where young people will receive the support they need to become healthy, productive members of the community. By investing in youth recovery, we are investing in the overall well-being and safety of our neighbourhood,” The Bridge wrote.
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