TERRACE, B.C. – Northwestern B.C. is set to get its first dedicated addictions treatment centre following the purchase of the former Silver Springs fishing lodge, located about 55 kilometres east of Terrace.
The 96-acre property along the Skeena River, which was sold at the end of May, will be converted into a 12-bed residential treatment facility. The centre is the result of years of lobbying by regional First Nations for local and accessible addictions services.
The facility will be operated by Red Road Recovery, a company with several other treatment centres in the province, in a direct partnership with the Northern First Nations Alliance—a coalition that includes the Haisla, Nisga’a, Kitselas, Kitsumkalum, Gitanyow, and Gitxaala Nations.
While the centre will be primarily for First Nations individuals, it will be open to all residents of the region in need of care. The project is being financed by the provincial government.
The new centre is expected to create approximately 25 local jobs, and the operator is already actively recruiting for a wide range of positions, including a program director, counsellors, support workers, chefs, and cultural support staff.
The company’s chief executive said they expect the centre to be open by October of this year. He described the 90-day program that will be offered as a unique combination of Indigenous-centered healing practices alongside the traditional 12-step addictions recovery model.
The establishment of this facility marks a critical step in addressing the health and addictions crisis in the Northwest, providing a long-awaited, local option for individuals and families seeking treatment.
