An enhanced residential treatment program for youth with substance abuse problems will be re-opening in Keremeos next year.
The new provincial 22-bed program at the Crossing at Keremeos facility is scheduled to open in 2017, the Ministry of Health said last week in a news release.
The program will provide treatment for youth and young adults aged 17 to 24 years with substance abuse problems that have not been successfully addressed in community programs.
Treatments will include group and individual or family therapy, access to therapeutic recreational activities, life-skills training and psych-social education so clients have the tools to transition successfully back to their home communities.
The program will be operated by a contract service provider who will be selected through a request for proposal process.
Central City Foundation, which owns the Crossing at Keremeos facility, is offering the space to the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) rent free.
The Crossing at Keremeos closed in March 2015 due to a breakdown in negotiations between the former operator, the non-profit organization Portage, and the PHSA. It originally opened in 2009.
Vandalized Oliver Telus tower expected to be replaced in July
Telus expects to have a new permanent cellular tower in Oliver in July to replace one that was vandalized and toppled on Oliver Mountain in March.
Vandals used tools to deliberately cut multiple guy wires that stabilized the tower, causing it to collapse and disrupting service. This was the primary wireless site serving the town.
The vandalism initially knocked out mobile phone service in Oliver and area.
After the vandalism, Telus technicians worked to quickly install temporary wireless antennas on the mountain, but this coverage is not as robust as the permanent tower provided, Telus said in a news release.
The temporary fix provides coverage to a majority of Oliver residents.
An RCMP investigation is ongoing.
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