The future CASA House in Fort McMurray continues to gain momentum, with Bouchier’s commitment of $1 million over the next five years to help expand access to youth and family mental health services across the region.
For families in Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo, accessing intensive youth mental health care often means travelling nearly five hours each way to Edmonton and facing wait times of eight to 18 months. CASA Mental Health provides care in the “missing middle,” bridging the critical gap between community-based services and hospital care. The new CASA House will bring that level of specialized support closer to home, where it is needed most.
“We see the pressures families in our region are facing firsthand, and the gaps that exist in accessing care – especially for Indigenous and rural communities,” says Nicole Bourque-Bouchier, CEO and Co-Owner of Bouchier. “Supporting CASA House is our way of helping close that gap and ensure young people have the support they need to heal and thrive, right here at home. Our youth carry the stories of our past and the promise of our future, and they must be our priority.”
“We are deeply grateful for Bouchier’s support in helping bring this vision to life,” says Bonnie Blakley, Chief Executive Officer, CASA Mental Health. “This investment is another important step forward in making CASA House Fort McMurray a reality and ensuring families can access the care they need, closer to home.”
“This deeply-rooted regional partnership with Bouchier is critical to turning our vision into reality,” adds Nadine Samycia, CASA’s Director of Philanthropy. “Together, we are strengthening families, helping more young people access timely, specialized mental health support and building a healthier future for communities across northern Alberta.”
Scheduled to open in 2027, CASA House Fort McMurray will provide intensive, live-in treatment for up to 57 youth each year, along with care for an additional 24 patients through the Adolescent Day Program. The facility will also support families and caregivers through integrated, trauma-informed care delivered by multidisciplinary teams.
The new facility will be located in the city’s south end, between Quarry Ridge Drive and Highway 63.
For more information about how CASA is expanding its circle of care across the province, visit Services Across Alberta.
