Youth Foundry set to open this January in PoCo

If they’re struggling with mental health challenges, addiction, or if they just need someone to talk to, young people in the Tri-Cities will soon have another place to go.

The Youth Foundry Hub is set to open its doors in January 2026 on the fourth floor of PoCo Place at Lougheed Highway just off Westwood Street.

“Mostly, the folks that are going to come are struggling with depression, anxiety, thoughts of self-harm,” explained SHARE Family and Community Services CEO Claire MacLean at a Coquitlam council meeting Monday.

The plan is to have physicians, counsellors, and youth peer workers on site offering wraparound supports for youths between the ages of 12 and 24, MacLean said.

The foundry will offer walk-in services in the after-school and early-evening hours, as well as appointments throughout the day.

Fraser Health Authority is set to have a prominent presence at the hub, which should “break down barriers for young people,” MacLean said.

Speaking as both an elected official and a parent, Mayor Richard Stewart emphasized the importance of the hub.

“The challenges of youth mental health and mental illness need early intervention,” he said. “To have a place where young people can explore the realities of their health – including their mental health – is, from my perspective, among the most important things that you will be doing in the next decade.”

Besides operating the food bank, SHARE provides tenant advocacy services, counselling for newcomers and refugees, as well as speech language pathologists and physiotherapists, all of which create a “tertiary level of health care,” MacLean said.

Foundry’s approach is based on the idea that a person’s wellness is often affected by multiple factors. A centre with integrated services means youth can avoid making several trips, asking for referrals, and repeatedly telling their story.