Ontario Making It Easier for Youth in Thunder Bay to Connect to Mental Health Services

Press Release

New Youth Wellness Hub providing support closer to home

THUNDER BAY — The Ontario government is delivering on its commitment to protect the provincial health-care system by making it faster and easier for young people to connect to mental health and substance use support. The Thunder Bay Youth Wellness Hub is one of ten new hubs that the government is adding to the network of 22 Youth Wellness hubs already opened or in development, bringing the total to 32 across the province.

“Our government is continuing to take action to build a connected and convenient system of care that meets the needs of youth and their families,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “As part of our commitment to expanding Youth Wellness Hubs across Ontario and supporting communities with the care they need, the opening of the Thunder Bay Youth Wellness Hub ensures young people have access to high-quality mental health and addictions services, closer to home, in a space designed just for them.”

The new Thunder Bay hub offers free, walk-in services for youth aged 12 to 25, which includes mental health and substance use support, primary care, peer support and social services. Additional services offered through the hub include supports for newcomers, employment services and access to community and social supports.

The hub was co-designed by Children’s Centre Thunder Bay in collaboration with local youth, community partners and Indigenous service providers to ensure that the unique needs of Indigenous youth were reflected in the overall design and planning of the new space. The hub will be a culturally responsive space that offers traditional teachings and supports designed to meet the needs of Indigenous youth and their families.

“Youth Wellness Hubs are about providing young people with the supports they need to connect and thrive,” said Vijay Thanigasalam, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “This hub is the result of strong collaboration among local community partners who came together to create a welcoming space to deliver integrated services that reflect the needs of youth in Thunder Bay.”

The milestone supports Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the government has significantly expanded the number of Youth Wellness Hubs across the province to make it faster and easier for young people to connect to mental health and substance use support, primary care, social services and more.

Quick Facts

The Thunder Bay Youth Wellness Hub offers free, confidential, walk-in services for youth from mental health to substance use support to school and employment services in one welcoming space.
Between August 2019 and March 2025, Youth Wellness Hubs connected nearly 73,000 youth and their families to mental health, substance use and wellness services accounting for over 367,000 visits.
In the last year, more than 27,000 youth made 134,920 visits to Youth Wellness Hubs across the province.
Ontario is investing $8.3 million over three years to expand the Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario program by adding 10 new hubs. These sites will be located in Port Hope, Thunder Bay, Oxford County, Vaughan, Brampton, Akwesasne, Bancroft, Cambridge, Dufferin County and Durham/Ajax. This expansion will bring the total number of hubs to 32, with more expected to open later this year
Between 2020 and 2023, Ontario established the initial provincial network of 22 Youth Wellness Hubs that are currently operating or in development: Algoma, Central Toronto, Chatham Kent, Eastern Champlain (Cornwall & SDG and Rockland & Prescott Russell), Haliburton County, Kenora, KFLA Region, London-Middlesex, Malton (includes Peel Region and Mississauga), Niagara Region, North Simcoe, Renfrew County, Sagamok Anishnawbek, Sarnia-Lambton, Scarborough, Sudbury, Thorncliffe Park, Timmins, Toronto East, Wellington-Guelph, West Toronto and Windsor-Essex.
Ontario is investing $3.8 billion over 10 years to fill gaps in mental health and addictions care, create new services and expand programs through the Roadmap to Wellness.
As part of the Roadmap, Ontario is investing an additional $396 million over three years to improve access and expand existing mental health and addictions services and programs.

Quotes

“The opening of the Youth Wellness Hub is a tremendous step forward in ensuring that young people in our community have access to the supports they need, close to home. This vision was first raised during a roundtable we hosted two years ago, where local leaders identified priorities to strengthen mental health and addictions care in our region. Since then, our government has responded with several key initiatives, and today we are proud to see the Youth Wellness Hub become a reality. This hub will provide young people with a safe, welcoming space where they can find support, connection, and hope. By investing in youth mental health and wellness, we are helping build a stronger, healthier future for Thunder Bay – Atikokan. I want to sincerely thank the dedicated staff, partners, and community members whose commitment made this milestone possible. ”

– Kevin Holland
MPP, Thunder Bay – Atikokan

“I’m thrilled to open the doors of this inclusive new space for youth in Thunder Bay and the surrounding area. Here, young people will find a full range of integrated supports — mental health, substance use care, primary care, housing, employment, recreation, and more — under one roof. This hub is possible thanks to the Government of Ontario, Children’s Centre Thunder Bay, and the many youth, Indigenous and First Nations service providers, and community partners who came together to make it a reality. Together, we are creating better opportunities and brighter futures with youth across Ontario.”

– Carole-Anne Chiasson
Executive Director, Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario

“Children’s Centre Thunder Bay, as the network lead is super excited to be hosting our grand opening today on behalf of the City and District partners. We are so proud watching this project come to fruition under the guidance of our amazing youth, families, and partners. Thank you to the Ministry of Health and Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario for your support and guidance in this project. We look forward to serving youth and families in this integrated one stop service model.”

– Diane Walker
CEO, Children’s Centre Thunder Bay

Additional Resources

Ontario Making It Easier for Youth in Thunder Bay to Connect to Mental Health Services

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