Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna

What Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna does

Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna (CMHA Kelowna) is a registered Canadian charitable non-profit and a regional division of the national CMHA federation, headquartered in Kelowna, British Columbia. The organization delivers mental health and substance-use services across the Central Okanagan, serving youth, adults, and families through a multi-channel portfolio that includes Foundry Kelowna (a one-stop integrated youth services hub operated with provincial and local partners), Wellness on Wheels mobile outreach across West Kelowna, Westbank, and Lake Country, virtual counselling, the CRCL crisis response program, housing across five dedicated buildings, and the national 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline launched in November 2023.

The organization has been operating in the region for decades and holds Imagine Canada accreditation, signaling adherence to standardized non-profit governance and accountability practices. Its operational model is grant- and donation-funded rather than fee-for-service: BC Housing, Interior Health, the Ministry of Children and Family Development, the Foundry Provincial Network, the Central Okanagan Foundation, and corporate donors such as Bell Let's Talk (2019, 2021) anchor the funding base, supplemented by community fundraising events. Services are delivered free of charge to end users.

CMHA Kelowna employed between 101 and 250 staff as of 2023 and is led by a CEO; long-serving CEO Mike Gawliuk was succeeded in 2024. Strategic priorities evidenced in recent activity include geographic expansion (Foundry Westside, mobile outreach), the addition of national crisis-line capacity, and sustained housing provision. The organization is positioned as a regional safety-net provider with structural integration into provincial health and housing systems, giving it durable service territory but limiting commercial-style growth ceilings.

Name

Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna

Legal name

Canadian Mental Health Association, Kelowna Branch

Website

https://cmhakelowna.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna is a registered BC non-profit delivering mental health, substance-use, housing, and youth services across the Central Okanagan through Foundry Kelowna, mobile outreach, and the 9-8-8 crisis helpline, funded primarily by provincial grants and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) (621330), Community Housing Services (62422), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) & Public Behavioral Health Providers (HLAFACAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Mental health support
• Community counselling services
• Supportive housing programs
• Crisis intervention services
• Youth mental health

Headquarters

HQ city

Kelowna

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Funding: CMHA Kelowna receives funding from provincial sources including BC Housing for housing programs, Interior Health for mental health services, and other government bodies to operate core programs and services
2. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, event fundraising (Mental Health Ride, galas), and corporate sponsorships support programs and services not fully funded by government sources
3. Community Foundation Grants: Funding from Central Okanagan Foundation supports Community Roots Navigation Services and other community programs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CMHA Kelowna is a nonprofit charitable organization that delivers free mental health support, counselling, crisis intervention, supportive housing, youth services, and community education to individuals and families in the Central Okanagan. Its core offerings include the integrated Foundry Kelowna youth clinic, five supportive housing buildings, virtual counselling for adults 25+, the CRCL mobile crisis response team, and employment and wellness programs.

Product overview

Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna operates as a community mental health organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of integrated programs and services. The core offerings include Foundry Kelowna (an integrated youth clinic serving ages 12-24), CMHA Kelowna Housing (five supportive housing buildings), Community Roots Navigation Services, and the Wellness Development Centre. Additional services span youth and family support (Wellness on Wheels, Youth Housing, BC Family Navigator, Family & Natural Supports), crisis response (CRCL, Virtual Counselling), housing stability (Central Okanagan Rent Bank), employment and training (REnEW, Links to Employment), education (Discovery College, Workplace Training), and the A Way Forward Podcast. Services are delivered through direct care, community partnerships, and virtual delivery channels, serving the Central Okanagan region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Foundry Kelowna: An integrated clinic providing mental health, primary care, substance use, counselling and social services for youth 12-24 and their families. Operated by CMHA Kelowna.
• Discovery College
• Wellness Development Centre (WDC)
• Crisis Response, Community Led (CRCL)
• Wellness on Wheels
• Bright Mindz
• Meals That Matter

Products and services

• Foundry Kelowna
• Wellness on Wheels Mobile service providing health and mental health care to young people aged 12-24 in West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation, and Lake Country.
• Youth Housing & Services Housing and wellness supports for youth under 24, including Rapid Rehousing and Housing First for Youth programs delivered in partnership with local organizations.
• BC Family Navigator Part of the Interior Region Family Navigation Project, supporting families and caregivers with navigation services to mental health and related supports.
• Family & Natural Supports (FNS) Program aimed at strengthening relationships between youth and their families or natural support systems.
• Community Roots Navigation Services Collaborative initiative providing comprehensive support services including outreach, case management, and scattered sites housing support, funded by BC Housing and the Central Okanagan Foundation.
• CMHA Kelowna Housing Five buildings providing housing and a variety of supports for individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, operated for over 20 years.
• Central Okanagan Rent Bank Provides interest-free repayable loans and access to support services for eligible renters in the Central Okanagan experiencing short-term financial difficulties.
• Crisis Response, Community Led (CRCL) Crisis response team providing confidential, timely, and in-person mental health support to individuals aged 13 and older in Kelowna.
• Virtual Counselling Services Free virtual counselling for adults ages 25+, available weekdays excluding holidays, accessible via video chat or phone for individuals, couples, families, and caregivers of youth.
• Wellness Development Centre (WDC) Community education and wellness programs including peer support, arts programs, recreation activities, and skill-building courses for mental health recovery and well-being.
• REnEW Program Four-week training program with classroom and hands-on field instruction for energy efficiency retrofits, open to anyone 18 years or older interested in pursuing a career in trades.
• Discovery College Courses developed and delivered in collaboration with people with personal experience, creating an empowering learning environment for anyone wanting to gain confidence to face life's challenges.
• Workplace Training Education programs helping organizations build mentally healthy workplaces.
• Links to Employment Program helping job seekers with persistent and multiple barriers to employment reach their goals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free virtual counselling available weekdays for adults 25+
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• BC HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBC Housing provides funding for Community Roots Navigation Services, Scattered Sites housing program, and rent supplement initiatives. CMHA Kelowna acts as leaseholder and housing provider for vulnerable populations through these partnerships.
• Interior HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior Health partners with CMHA Kelowna for mental health services coordination, crisis line operations (310-MHSU), and integrated care delivery including at the Mental Health and Substance Use Services location at 505 Doyle Avenue.
• Foundry (Provincial Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMHA Kelowna operates Foundry Kelowna as part of the provincial Foundry network, a province-wide initiative providing integrated health and social services for youth. The network includes partner organizations sharing resources and best practices.
• Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for serving youth in care, including transition support for youth aging out of MCFD care who are at risk of homelessness, with combined support through CMHA housing programs.
• Community Agencies NetworksecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMHA Kelowna's Community Roots team works in collaboration with other community agencies to best meet the needs of vulnerable populations through coordinated service delivery.
• Discovery CollegesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative educational initiative offering courses developed and delivered in partnership with people who have knowledge and personal experience, creating empowering learning environments.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• BC Housing: Provincial housing agency that funds and partners with CMHA Kelowna's housing and rent supplement programs. Comparable as a funder/operator in the supportive housing space and a key counterpart relationship.
• Interior Health Authority: Regional health authority that both funds CMHA Kelowna and directly operates mental health and substance use services across the Central Okanagan. Comparable as a provider of overlapping services in the same geography.
• Canadian Mental Health Association (National Office): National umbrella organization for CMHA branches including CMHA Kelowna. Operates broader advocacy, research, and national programs (Bell Let's Talk), and provides the brand, accreditation framework, and policy influence that the Kelowna branch leverages.

Direct peers

• Foundry (Provincial Network): Provincial network of integrated youth wellness centers that CMHA Kelowna operates within via Foundry Kelowna. Comparable in offering the same integrated mental health, substance use, primary care, and social services model for ages 12-24 across BC.
• PHS Community Services Society: Vancouver-based nonprofit operating housing, harm reduction, and health services for people with mental health and substance use challenges. Comparable integrated housing + mental health nonprofit model operating under BC provincial funding.
• Coast Mental Health: BC-based nonprofit providing supportive housing, mental health programs, and employment services. Comparable as a regional nonprofit operating housing + mental health service delivery under government contracts.
• Canadian Mental Health Association Toronto: Another large CMHA branch operating in a different province with a similar portfolio of mental health, housing, and crisis services. Comparable branch-level peer with parallel funding structure (government + donations) and program mix.
• CMHA Vancouver-Fraser: Another large BC CMHA branch delivering mental health, housing, and substance use programs in a different regional catchment. Most directly comparable peer in terms of service portfolio, funding structure, and operating model.
• John Howard Society of British Columbia: BC nonprofit providing social services including housing, youth justice support, and reintegration programs. Comparable nonprofit model serving vulnerable populations with government grant funding across BC.

Regional players

• Boys and Girls Club of the Okanagan: Kelowna-area nonprofit providing youth and family programs including some mental health and wellbeing services. Comparable as a community-based youth services provider in the same geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cmhakelowna
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cmha.kelowna/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/cmhakelowna
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cmha-kelowna
• Instagraminstagram.com/cmhakelowna

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna