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Read All Latest NewsCITY OF LANGFORD ANNOUNCES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A COMMUNITY CHILD CAREAND YOUTH HEALTH AND WELLNESS SUPPORT CENTRE
Strategic Partnerships Continue to Create The Conditions Needed to Make Langford a Resilient and Connected Community
(Langford, B.C.): On Monday, June 1, 2026, the City of Langford announced the development of a new community facility at 2805 Carlow Road that will expand access to licensed child care and provide a permanent home for Foundry West Shore, bringing free and confidential mental health and wellness services for youth.
The two-storey facility is funded in partnership with the Province of British Columbia, including $7,160,600 million from the ChildCareBC’s 2024-2025 New Spaces Fund grant to establish 73 child care spaces. This fund is jointly supported by provincial investments and federal funding under the Canada-British Columbia Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. British Columbia and the federal government signed an extension to the agreement covering 2026-27 until 2030-31.
“This project highlights what can be achieved through community partnerships,” said Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson. “Co-locating child care and youth wellness services at this central location maximizes community benefit and ensures families can access essential services in a safe, welcoming, and accessible environment.”
As part of its provincial strategy to improve mental health and addictions care for young people, the Province is providing funding toward the development and delivery of Foundry services in West Shore. To support the project, the City will build and provide funding for the building shell and onsite works. Thrive Social Services Society will enter into a long-term lease with the City, and over the life of the lease, the City will be made whole on the investment.
“We’re making it easier for parents and families in Langford to access affordable child care. These new spaces will help ease the pressure on parents and give more children a place to learn and grow in their own community,” said Stephanie McLean, Canada’s Secretary of State for Seniors and Member of Parliament for Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke. “When children have access to a great start in life, families thrive and all Canadians benefit.”
“These spaces uplift families and young people by bringing child care and youth services together in one welcoming location,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Education and Child Care. “Parents can now benefit from access to reliable care closer to home. Foundry services support youth with the health and wellness services they need most. Projects like this help build healthier, more connected communities where children and families can thrive.”
“Young people deserve easy access to care that meets them where they are, without barriers or stigma,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “Foundry West Shore will bring critical mental health, substance use and wellness supports together under one roof, making it easier for youth and their families to get help early. By partnering with communities like Langford, we’re building a system of care that is more connected, compassionate and responsive to the needs of young people.”
The building was originally planned as a six-storey, 40-unit affordable housing project. However, changes to the pace of provincial housing funding shifted the project direction and created an opportunity to locate the Foundry on the centre’s second floor.
The project aligns with Langford’s 2023-2027 Council Strategic Plan, which emphasizes supporting community organizations to expand services to youth, increasing the availability of child care, and improving community wellbeing.
Foundry West Shore will be led by Thrive Social Services Society, which has been searching for an appropriate space for their program for over two years. Designed to remove barriers and increase access to quality care, their program offers free and confidential mental health and wellness services for young people ages 12-24 and their families/caregiver.
“We are grateful for the strong partnership between Thrive Social Services Society, the City of Langford, and Foundry BC, as well as The Village Initiative and the Youth, Family, and Community Leadership Tables who have guided and supported this work,” said Scott Bradford, Executive Director of Thrive Social Services Society. “The City’s leadership in partnering to build the Foundry West Shore centre, together with provincial funding and Thrive’s investment, has been instrumental in making this project possible. Following an extensive site search, we are pleased to move forward collaboratively to create a welcoming, youth friendly space where young people can access the supports they need to thrive.”
“Thanks to the dedication of the Thrive Social Services Society team, a location for the future Foundry West Shore has been identified! This significant milestone is creating a safe, welcoming space where young people can access the care and connection they deserve. We look forward to the impact this centre will have on the health and well-being of youth and families in the West Shore.” – Amy Schactman, Manager Service Implementation & Integration, Foundry Central Office
“These provincial investments are helping build a new centre that will provide much needed child care spaces and a new Foundry Centre for young people and families,” said Ravi Parmar, MLA for Langford-Highlands. “Langford is the best. Growing families, new investments, incredible people, and a community that continues to show what’s possible when we work together. Proud to call this place home.”
The site at 2805 Carlow Road is the current location of the Centennial Center for Arts, which will be moving in early 2027 to a new child care and arts facility currently under construction at 3014 Glen Lake Road. Construction at 2805 Carlow Road is anticipated to commence in early 2027, which will allow the existing Centennial Center for Arts to remain operational until the end of 2026 while their new building is under construction. This project is anticipated to be completed in spring 2028.
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About Foundry West Shore
Foundry West Shore, led by Thrive Social Services Society, brings essential health and wellness services closer to home for young people aged 12–24 and their families/caregivers. Foundry West Shore will offer a range of free and confidential supports in one welcoming place, including mental health care, substance use health, youth and family peer support, physical and sexual health care, and work, education and community supports.
Now more than ever, it is critical that every young person and caregiver in British Columbia has a safe, accessible place to turn for timely support. Foundry West Shore fills an important gap in the West Shore by bringing multiple services together in one convenient, youth friendly location.
Foundry West Shore is a community led initiative that recognizes youth and the community as the experts. Thrive Social Services Society, which has provided youth and family services in the community for more than 30 years, serves as the lead agency and is responsible for convening and engaging youth, families, and community partners through its leadership tables. As Foundry West Shore enters the capital development phase, the initiative looks forward to working alongside partners and the community to create a warm, welcoming space that meets the unique needs of youth and families across the West Shore.