‘Our goal was to combine sustainable resource management and best practices in stewardship with impactful community reinvestment’
Foundry Port Hardy, together with its parent organization, the North Island Crisis and Counselling Centre Society (NICCCS), has received a landmark $450,000 donation from Lemare Forestry, supported by Aa’tu Forestry, Quatsino First Nation, Interfor, BC Timber Sales, and the Province of British Columbia.
This contribution will directly fuel integrated youth health services, setting a new standard for community-driven social development on the North Island.
Coordinated by Lemare Forestry owner, Eric Dutcyvich, the initiative was a multi-organization collaboration, with a vision to redefine what was possible within the forestry sector.
“Our goal was to combine sustainable resource management and best practices in stewardship with impactful community reinvestment,” Dutcyvich stated. “Foundry
Port Hardy is for all youth, from every community, and it bridges major gaps found in traditional systems. We are all so proud to support the important work that Foundry is doing in our rural communities.”
Lemare, Aa’tu Forestry, Quatsino First Nation, Interfor, BC Timber Sales, and the Province of British Columbia all came together to support this important initiative. This collaboration demonstrates how business, government, and Nations can work together to build essential community programs.
This model of partnership, Dutcyvich emphasized, is not just innovative but scalable. “Thousands of hours of effort went into making this happen,” he said, “and we’re especially thankful to Quatsino First Nation for their leadership in shaping this opportunity on their territory. In moving forward, we modelled this agreement in a manner that demonstrates how organizations involved in the resource sector can follow suit by dedicating a percentage of profits from similar agreements to social development or underrepresented populations, ensuring lasting benefits for local communities.”
Ann Hory, Chair of the North Island Crisis and Counselling Centre Society, firmly believes this support will drive lasting impact.
“This is the type of partnership that changes lives,” Hory added. “Knowing we have key stakeholders championing better futures for North Island youth has been transformative. It’s time we break free from outdated thinking and fully embrace new, collaborative models that deliver real results.”
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