New Vanderhoof detox centre adds 5 'badly needed' recovery beds to northern B.C. - CBC

Carrier Sekani Family Services is now operating a 5-bed detox centre in Vanderhoof. (Submitted by Carrier Sekani Family Services)Social SharingA new five-bed detox centre is now open in Vanderhoof and the operator says it marks the start of more treatment and recovery services coming to northern B.C. 

The detox centre will provide 24/7 medical withdrawal management and wraparound support to help people withdraw from substances as a step on their healing journey. 

"There's a limited number of beds in the north and so it's very badly needed," said Travis Holyk, chief administrative officer for Carrier Sekani Family Services, which is running the program. 

He said the five-bed detox centre will allow the organization to build a team and train them, as construction of a much larger treatment centre is almost finished at nearby Tachick Lake, about 25 kilometres southwest of Vanderhoof. 

Holyk said the Tachick Lake Healing Centre is a decades-long project that reflects years of advocacy for equitable access to addictions recovery services in northern British Columbia.

"This is part of a bigger picture when it comes to expanding treatment and recovery in the area," said Holyk. 

"It's been a long journey from the first design stage, and even back in the day when people were calling for additional treatment beds."

Construction officially started in July 2023 following a groundbreaking ceremony. 

Once complete, the Tachick Lake facility will have ten beds for medical detox and 36 beds for culturally grounded land-based healing. The centre will include gardens, greenhouses, smokehouses, an outdoor kitchen and workshop space. 

"People could potentially transition from the detox side over to the healing side," said Holyk.

"But that's not necessarily the case, we'll work with them to get them the services they need wherever they are in the province." 

The Tachick Lake Healing Centre shown from above in June 2026. (Submitted by Carrier Sekani Family Services)

According to the B.C. Coroners Service, northern B.C. has the highest rate of unregulated drug deaths in the province, at a rate of 48.5 deaths per 100,000 people so far this year, compared to 27.5 per 100,000 provincially.

In June, then-premier David Eby announced in that Prince George would get a 72-bed treatment centre available for people with "serious addiction challenges" often coupled with mental health issues or brain injuries.

Then-Prince George mayor Simon Yu said the need for more care has been a top issue for him and other council members every time they meet with provincial officials. He added that while progress has been made, "even one death is too many."

The province's newly formed Conservative government has stated it plans to "expand detoxification, clinical treatment, recovery housing and after care" across the province, including building regional capacity for rural and northern communities. 

Holyk says detox is typically five to seven days, but the residential treatment that will be provided at the Tachick Lake Healing Centre would be a much longer process — providing programming, counselling, and the services needed to get people reoriented back into the community. 

"We know that detox is only one part of someone's healing journey, and so with the program intended to be culturally grounded, we really see if that is the first step for people who are ready to seek help," said Holyk. 

"We really want it to be therapeutic in the services that we're providing."

He says the Tachick Lake Healing Centre site build will be finished around February or March with occupancy anticipated in fall 2027.

Hanna Petersen is a reporter for CBC News, working out of the Prince George, B.C., bureau. You can email her at hanna.petersen@cbc.ca.