Image credit: Anthony Corea/CFJC Today

By Marty Hastings

SMASH AND SPLASH

Foundry Kamloops fundraiser destruction benefits youth services hub construction

Aug 21, 2025 | 4:35 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Acacia Pangilinan experienced catharsis in the Wreck-It Room on Thursday [Aug. 21] at the Foundry Smash and Splash fundraiser.

“I’m pretty sure that was the old printer that we had at the office, so I had a lot of pent-up rage toward that printer” she said with a laugh. “I was just very excited to smash it.”

Destruction was constructive at the future home of Foundry Kamloops, an integrated services hub for youth ages 12-to-24 on schedule to be open in about one year.

Sponsors paid to paint walls and smash objects with golf clubs, sledgehammers and baseball bats at the event held inside the downtown edifice at 650 Seymour St.

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Peer, mental health and substance-use support, physical and sexual health care, and social services will be offered at the downtown hub.

“We’re going to have a physical space with a whole bunch of services in one place for young people,” Foundry Kamloops manager Lisa Johannesen said. “It’s going to be free, preventative and accessible. Young people can walk in off the street and access services that same day or make appointments.”

The Seniors Community Centre offered first-floor space to Interior Community Services (ICS), which holds the provincial government contract for Foundry Kamloops.

“It’s an incredible $3-million donation to help support our young people,” Johannesen said.

The first-floor space will be demolished and renovated.

“We can’t hurt it,” Johannesen said. “Let’s have some fun with it.”

Added Pangilinan: “Foundry is a really critical piece that will be coming to our community for services for youth who are in need and I think this is a really fun way of bringing the community together to create something new — by smashing the stuff in the past and creating something that the community will benefit from.”

Foundry sought input for design from its youth advisory committee, which features members of the age group the hub will service.

“This is a very long-awaited space,” said 19-year-old Diya Dutt, who belongs to the youth advisory committee. “I feel like teens need to find a space here that is welcoming, where they can get any peer support, hang out after school, get access to resources.

“Being a teenager, I know how hard it can be to get access to these kind of resources. It makes me very proud to be part of this and to make great change.”

The provincial government has kicked in nearly $2 million toward the ICS capital campaign goal of $4.5 million.

“We still have about $1 million to go,” Johannesen said, noting prospective donors can reach out to ICS. “This is kind of that big final push.”

Johannesen said past delays to the establishment of the Kamloops Foundry can be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and the search for services, partner integration and a central location.

“Our youth advisory committee has been instrumental in the development of this space, which took a little bit of extra time, as well — and really important time,” she said. “This is a space that young people need to know about and feel involved in.”