Weekend parade to help bring youth treatment centre to Kelowna

The $8-million youth treatment and recovery facility is a project spearheaded by the Bridge Youth and Family Services organization, and hopes to accommodate up to 40 youth.

Pam Turgeon has suffered unimaginable pain in recent years, having lost both her son Ryan and son-in-law Cody to the toxic drug crisis.

“It is a grief you never get over,” Turgeon said.

But the Kelowna woman is using that grief to help make a difference.

For the past five years, she has organized the annual ‘Parade With A Purpose,’ raising money towards a youth treatment and recovery centre.

This year, for the first time, the Christmas parade will be held downtown, raising its profile and fundraising efforts.

“We have raised a couple hundred thousand already to date and if we raise $250,000, which is our goal this year, it will be matched by an anonymous donor,” Turgeon said.

The money will go towards building a youth treatment and recovery facility in Kelowna, a project spearheaded by the Bridge Youth and Family Services organization, which says the centre is badly needed.

“I think that is evident to many in our community as we see the toll of the drug crisis, the toxic drug crisis, overdoses, people struggling with substance use and people needing to access supports and resources,” said Kelly Paley, director of community engagement for Bridge Youth and Family Services.