Layoffs announced as Keremeos youth treatment centre closes doors
PENTICTON – A Keremeos residential treatment facility for addicted youth known as The Crossing suddenly closed its doors yesterday, ending the service and sending roughly 20 people out of work.
The facility was operated by Portage British Columbia, which confirmed the closure today, March 6. Portage spokesperson Christina Panagio said after a dispute with the provincial government over costs, they decided to pull the plug.
“We’re very sorry, especially to the dedicated, competent staff who were part of the Portage family,” Panagio said. “We couldn’t come to an agreement with the provincial government over the cost of running the facility.”
The facility opened in 2009 on a 58-acre property located approximately six kilometres west of the village. The Crossing provided a residential rehabilitation treatment program for adolescents between the ages of 14-18.
Staff were informed Thursday of the decision. They were offered positions at other Portage facilities. Two staff members will remain at the site to close the facility. It is not known at this time what will become of the treatment centre.
Cawston resident Maria MacKenzie worked at The Crossing until the end of February. She said she saw the writing on the wall when the last resident left the treatment centre. MacKenzie quit the centre a week before it shut its doors.
MacKenzie said admissions had been on hold at the centre since Oct. 31. She said she was disappointed in how the facility was closed.
“They kept those people on a string for so long. Right up to the final week they were told they were revamping the workshops,” she said.
Portage is a non-profit organization that helps people suffering from substance abuse. It operates 12 other programs in Atlantic Canada, Quebec and Ontario. Keremeos was Portage’s only facility in B.C.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
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27 responses
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Our family is deeply saddened to hear aboutthe closure of Portage Keremeos. Our daughter had completed the 6 month program at the end of February and we want to say to the staff at Portage , you people did a great job. We got our daughter back and are truly grateful for all you did for her , she is a changed person because of the work she did in the program. Its sad to hear that children in desperate need of treatment never were afforded the same as our daughter. Thank you again to the staff for the care and Love you gave our daughter.
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It wasn’t the government who laid us off, it was Portage who pulled the rug out from under us. And then they offer us work at their other facilities, which the closest one is 2000 miles away…Please!What I can’t understand is how the government and a not for profit group couldn’t come to an agreement about how to spend tax-payers money and donations in a way that would benefit our youth. There was 17 youth waiting to come into the facility and that means 17 families were desperate for help, but instead…these youth and their families are left to fend for themselves. Sad…very sad and as well very frustrating!
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The person who made this decision to close the facility is a DISGUSTING careless person.The little bit of hope our youth had and you decide to take it away?Obviously it;s all about $$$$.There are always alternative solutions…
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My son attended the Portage facility and turned his life around while there. I am eternally grateful for the good work that the staff there did with him—and quite horrified to learn that the facility has closed. Like others have said, it costs millions of dollars to build new prisons and house offenders—and the vast majority of them are there for reasons directly attributable to substance abuse issues. It’s far more effective to take a proactive approach in addressing substance abuse early, and providing youths with the support they need to get—and stay—sober and healthy. Portage did that (and will be sorely missed).
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Why is the focus of the article on employees losing their jobs instead of discussing the loss of potentially life-saving services to teens in need. Job loss is significant, but articles should be focusing on the loss of service, not jobs.
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I hope the good mayor and councils of keremeos look thoroughly that maybe they can reopen the doors, GOD be with all the youth and council in keremeos, I’ll be praying.
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this is disgusting. Money from sales of alcohol and lottery tickets should be directerd at these facilities. But no – just keep reducing restrictions on access to alcohol, opening casinos and other contributions to addiction. This is not in the best interests of families. Was this the only one in B.C. Our youth need help!
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Why are we always so vocal when it is too late?So critical once the news hits?Where are we when decisions are being made?How often have any of us (including me), attended a political function, or even watched the parliamentary debates?Where are we when the “representatives” are determined, or when a party’s manifesto is discussed?We have lost a lot these past dozen years or so.Many sectors of our social services are now run by Canadian Divisions ofForeign companies, leave alone (our) resources.Small towns like McBride being pressured to dissolve with threats of losing municipal services. Partially public funded two-tiered health and education. Cronyism in our government and negative campaigning – for cripes sakes, folks, we aren’t the states!It’s the party manifesto, not the Leader of the Party that makes the decisions.It is our government, if we want it to be, but we have to get involved.
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I am on the Board of ACCESS YOUTH OUTREACH SERVICES in B.C. and want to add my concern over lack of government insight into funding youth programming and services when youth need our support.Shame on all of us for not speaking out about this.Youth deserve the best we can give them.
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When the government supports harm reduction and not programs based on complete abstinence, I always think that actions speak louder than words. There is obviously more money to be made off people suffering in the medical and legal systems. I once had to take one of my foster kids to court five times to deal with a 1.25 robbery charge. The crown eventually dealt with the matter but the lawyers and the rest of the court system made good money off of it as well.
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I am quite disappointed in the closing of this facility as it is one of the resources I use for the youth I work with…There is a shortage of treatment options for youth in BC and loosing one is just taking more away from our youth.
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The long term effects of getting help at the earliest age possible, gives a human a more promising future.We need to get people into treatment as young as possible, it saves lives (and money long term) and gives them Hope!A facility like this gives youth a place to settle, at no expense, just to focus on getting themselves getting clean, to deal with why they are using and potentially becoming a contributing member of society.
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Too bad over all for everyone, for the youth and for those who lost their employment. It would be interesting to know a bit more about what were the nature of the negotiations with the government.
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Why is it that government can waste money in other areas and something beneficial to our struggling youth, they just plain delete? I was saddened and disappointed to hear about ”The Crossing” closing.Even if most of the workers were volunteers, the government wouldn’t justify in keeping this facility open! Maybe its time for a change in Victoria….there must be some politicans who care enough not to leave our youth on the back burner! After all, they are our Future!
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you obviously have never seen this facility or your idea of elaborate is very interesting to say the least Beverley, i won`t waste my time commenting on that any further.
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what a terrible loss for society as a whole.the implications of such a decision will be far more than any dollaramount although i`m sure that wasn`t given much consideration by either political or corporate so called experts.it is absolutely appalling that such shallow thinking is in a position of authority.
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Even though the centre was housed on a 58 acre property most of that land is undeveloped and the property was never purchased just leased. The property is perfect for the use as the limited amount of property utilized was also perfect.
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I recall this place years ago and it was a functioning Dare project.. knew folks that worked there in the 90’s… it was awesome.. greatfacilities… but managed very poorly and frankly the original owners tried for years to sell and had problems.. it is a great site and should be updated and used forcorporate retreats..
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58 acres!How much was it financially to buy 58 acres of property?Also, how much to care for it?A smaller level of center would have been much more reasonable. The main idea here is to rehabilitate addicted youth.I just feel that had this been less elaborate that financially they could have made it financially.
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