Foundry Snuneymuxw: Planning a Centre for Youth, with Youth
It’s been a busy spring for the Foundry Snuneymuxw team! In April, we brought together young people, families, and local health and social service leaders for the first time to help shape what the new Foundry centre will look like and how it will work.
Foundry Snuneymuxw is set to open in spring 2026. It will offer easy-to-access services for children and youth ages 12 to 24, and their identified family members. The centre will support five main areas: physical and sexual health, mental health, substance use support, peer support, and social services. Foundry is working closely with partners across Nanaimo to make sure these services meet the real needs of young people.
Youth and Caregivers Helping to Lead
Earlier this year, 13 young people from Nanaimo, aged 12 to 24, joined the first Foundry Snuneymuxw Youth Advisory Council (YAC). This group meets each month to help guide the design, programs, services, and operations at the new centre. Their role is to make sure Foundry Snuneymuxw is truly built for young people, by young people.
In April, a Family and Caregiver Advisory Council (FAC) was also formed. Eight members, all caregivers of local youth, are part of this group. They make sure that the voices of families and caregivers with lived experience are included in the planning and decision-making.
Designing a Welcoming Space
In May, members of both youth and family councils visited the future Foundry site at 4196 Departure Bay Road. They met with interior designer Rachelle Gervais of RG Design Studio, and Foundry staff Marlow de Paul and Amy Schactman, to share ideas about the layout and design of the space.
During the visit, council members walked through the building - now leased by Kw’umut Lelum - and gave feedback on how the space can best reflect Foundry’s six core design principles: privacy, safety, accessibility, quality, sustainability, and visual identity. A final floor plan, shaped by all this input, has now been approved. Kw’umut Lelum plans to hold a land blessing before construction begins in early fall, once building permits are approved.
Working Together as One – Naut’sa mawt
Behind the scenes, partners across the community are getting ready to work together to provide integrated services at Foundry Snuneymuxw. In April, representatives from youth-serving organizations gathered at the Coast Bastion Hotel to create two key governance groups:
- The Anchor Table, which focuses on mobilizing resources and removing systems-level barriers.
- The Community Partners Table, which supports Kw’umut Lelum by sharing advice on local services and community priorities.
These groups are working under the principle of Naut’sa mawt, which means “working together as one.” This approach reflects a shared commitment to collaboration, respect, and cultural responsibility. It’s also a way to honour the Snuneymuxw people, on whose territory the centre is located.
By working together, these partners are helping build a welcoming and culturally rooted space where young people can get the support they need and deserve.
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