The Bridge Archives - The Bridge Youth & Family Services

Experiencing a day with Outreach

June 14, 2019

I had the opportunity to join The Bridge Outreach team for a shift in Downtown Kelowna, five hours that opened my eyes to a new perspective on homeless life in the Central Okanagan. My two colleagues – who I had only previously met at training sessions and meetings – took me under their wings to show me what they do day in day out. Our Outreach Overdose Prevention Service team features four staff members who collectively provide this service in Kelowna seven days a week – downtown in the afternoon and in Rutland in the evening. We also are providing…

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Local non-profit can meet demand for expanded addiction services within two months

June 12, 2019

The Bridge Youth & Family Services is appealing to the BC Government to invest in improving addiction and recovery services in the Central Okanagan to bring it to comparable levels available elsewhere in the province. The Bridge presented to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services Wednesday morning to demonstrate how the Kelowna-based non-profit could use their expertise and infrastructure to have expanded service in place within two months of Government support. “The Central Okanagan has the solutions but does not have the resources to effectively respond to the segment of our community who is desperately seeking our…

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Naloxone Training Incredibly Popular at URBA After Hours

June 6, 2019

Attendees of the Uptown Rutland Business Association’s (URBA) June After Hours event became more prepared to help combat the provincial Opioid Overdose Crisis. For the first time at the event, free Naloxone training was offered by hosts at The Bridge Youth & Family Services with approximately half of the 85 attendees taking part in the brief hands-on training session and leaving with their own Naloxone kit. Quite the soirée last night. And in true Bridge fashion: 40 of our uptown Rutland business neighbours are now Naloxone trained! (And one very lucky man went home with free Tribute for Teens concert…

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Kelowna Councillor Announces Tributes For Teens Fundraiser

April 17, 2019

Kelowna councillor Ryan Donn is hosting “Tributes for Teens: Arrival and Dreams,” presented by Valley First Insurance to raise funds to build a youth treatment centre in Kelowna. The concert will take place at the Kelowna Community Theatre on October 25 at 7:30 p.m. featuring Arrival – Canada’s tribute to ABBA – and Dreams – the ultimate tribute to Fleetwood Mac, as well as special guest performances. Music lovers can expect two authentic sounding six-piece tribute performances in full costumes with similar styles, looks and sounds to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees. “I’ve been inspired by my…

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The Bridge Hosts Coffee With the Mayor & Social Services Leaders

February 15, 2019

Mayor Colin Basran met with Kelowna’s leaders of the social services sector over coffee Wednesday morning at The Bridge Youth & Family Services to further engage in discussions about how to strengthen the community. The informal meeting was a continuation of a conversation held during the recent municipal election on how to support the community’s disenfranchised and promote Kelowna’s diversity, compassion and inclusion. Housing continues to be at the forefront of discussions. With funding for the Cornerstone emergency shelter set to end in 2019, establishing help for people who access this service and continuing to assist people access housing…