Conayt Friendship Society

What Conayt Friendship Society does

Conayt Friendship Society is a non-profit Indigenous friendship centre headquartered at 2164 Quilchena Avenue in Merritt, British Columbia, founded in 1968 in the Nicola Valley. The organization operates with a mission to holistically improve quality of life and strengthen friendship and cooperation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members — the name "Conayt" means "helping others" in nɬeʔkepmxcin. It is governed by a Board of Directors led by President Betty Ann McDonnell and managed by Executive Director Hyrum Peterson, with a staff of approximately 25+ personnel across finance, programs, housing, and outreach functions.

The organization delivers a portfolio of seven core social service programs: Aboriginal Head Start (a 28-spot licensed daycare for infants to age 6, operated in partnership with NVIT and the Nicola Valley and District Métis Society); Merritt Moms and Families (prenatal and family development support); Youth Services including the Spirit of the Youth Room; the Elders Program (serving approximately 40 elders monthly with care baskets, breakfast deliveries, and check-ins); Drug and Alcohol Services including the Men's Circle of Courage; Indigenous-focused low-income Housing (40 existing units, with a 50-unit expansion under development at Tamarack Gardens); and the MMIWG Memorial Garden Project. Technical infrastructure consists of a Jimdo-hosted website with Google Forms for applications, plus Facebook and Instagram for community engagement.

The revenue model is a hybrid of government program funding (Service Canada's New Horizons for Seniors, Women and Gender Equality Canada), philanthropic grants and donations (Telus Friendly Future Foundation, Vancouver Foundation, Hudson's Bay Foundation, BC CDC, ABC Recycling), annual membership fees ($2.50 for elders/two years, $5.00 general/annual), and geared-to-income rental income from the 40 housing units. Services are delivered free of charge where eligibility applies (e.g., Aboriginal Head Start). The organization is membership-based with voting rights at the AGM, and serves a defined geographic catchment of the Nicola Valley and Merritt, BC.

Name

Conayt Friendship Society

Legal name

Conayt Friendship Society

Website

https://conayt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Conayt Friendship Society is a 1968-founded Indigenous non-profit in Merritt, BC, providing social services — including affordable housing, licensed childcare, elder care, youth programs, and drug and alcohol counseling — to the Nicola Valley community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community and Social Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Family Engagement & Caregiver Support Programs (SEL/Mental Health) (EDAKAMAK)

Keywords

• Indigenous community services
• Low-income housing
• Early childhood daycare
• Elders support programs
• Family wellness programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Merritt

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Grants: Primary funding from government programs including Service Canada's New Horizons for Seniors, Women and Gender Equality Canada, and other provincial/federal sources to support community programs.
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees: $2.50 for elders (two years), $5.00 for general members. Members can vote at AGM and participate in society governance.
3. Donations and Philanthropic Contributions: Donations from organizations like Telus Friendly Future Foundation, Vancouver Foundation, Hudson's Bay Foundation for specific programs and emergency relief.
4. Low-Income Housing Rent: Rent-geared housing for Indigenous community members with 40 units available to low-income residents.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Conayt Friendship Society is a non-profit Friendship Centre that delivers culturally grounded social service programs to Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members in the Nicola Valley of British Columbia. Its core offerings include Aboriginal Head Start daycare (28 spots), low-income Indigenous housing (40 units), an Elders Program (serving ~40 elders monthly), Merritt Moms and Families (prenatal/family support), Youth Services, Drug and Alcohol counselling, and the MMIWG Memorial Garden Project.

Product overview

Conayt Friendship Society is a community non-profit organization offering a portfolio of social service programs. The main programs include Aboriginal Head Start (holistic early childhood daycare for 28 children), Merritt Moms and Families (prenatal and family support), Youth Services (including the Spirit of the Youth Room), Elders Program (serving those 55+), Drug and Alcohol Services (counselling and support groups), Housing (40 Indigenous-focused low-income units), and the Memorial Garden Project. The organization was founded in 1968 in the Nicola Valley and operates as a Friendship Centre strengthening connections between Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aboriginal Head Start Program A free holistic early childhood education and daycare program for infants and children up to age 6, offered in partnership with NVIT and the Nicola Valley and District Métis Society, with 28 spots covering language and culture, health, education, nutrition, social support, and parental involvement.
• Merritt Moms and Families A drop-in centre for expecting families and families with young children, providing prenatal support, family development resources, and community connections in the Nicola Valley.
• Youth Services Support services and programming for youth in the Nicola Valley community, including the Spirit of the Youth Room (SOY) program funded by the Telus Friendly Future Foundation.
• Elders Program Program serving elders 55+ with a drop-in centre, pension day breakfasts, cultural outings, crafts, workshops, and community support; serves approximately 40 elders monthly. Funded by Service Canada's New Horizons for Seniors program.
• Drug and Alcohol Services Alcohol and drug counselling services offering support for individuals, groups, couples, youth, and families, including the Men's Circle of Courage group.
• Indigenous Low-Income Housing Rent-geared-to-income Indigenous-focused housing with 40 units including 2, 3, and 4 bedroom units, three handicap-accessible units, and four duplex units, serving Indigenous individuals and families aged 19+, seniors, and post-secondary students. A new 50-unit Indigenous apartment building at Tamarack Gardens is in development with a naming contest ending April 30, 2026.
• MMIWG Memorial Garden Project MMIWG (Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls) Memorial Garden on the NVIT Merritt campus, featuring a pit house and contemplative space honoring MMIWG and LGBTQ2S+ communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40 elders served monthly with care basket deliveries and check-ins
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 February 2022Partnership to operate Aboriginal Head Start daycare facility on NVIT Merritt campus. NVIT agreed to make green space available for the MMIWG Memorial Garden. Conayt operates the daycare facility providing 28 spots for infants through age 6.
• Nicola Valley and District Métis SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 February 2022Partner in Aboriginal Head Start program at NVIT. Métis Society raised funds for the Indigenous playground at the daycare facility. Metis artist Pat Calihou created custom playground art.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• First Nations Health Authority: BC's First Nations-led health authority delivering wellness, mental health, and addictions programs to Indigenous communities. Comparable in mental health/addictions service overlap (Conayt's Drug and Alcohol Services) and Indigenous-led service model, though at provincial scale.
• Native Women's Association of Canada: A national Indigenous organization delivering programs for Indigenous women, girls, and families across Canada, including housing, family support, and cultural programming. Comparable to Conayt in mission alignment and service portfolio, though operating at national rather than regional scale.
• BC Association of Friendship Centres: The provincial umbrella for BC's 25+ Friendship Centres including Conayt itself. Other member centres (e.g., Kamloops Indian Friendship Centre, Osoyoos Indian Band) operate near-identical program portfolios—housing, childcare, elders, youth, and family services.

Regional players

• Yukon Aboriginal Women's Council: An Indigenous women's organization providing family violence prevention, housing, and community wellness in the Yukon. Comparable in Indigenous-led social services delivery and family/housing focus, though serving a different territory.
• Metis Nation British Columbia: Provincial Métis organization providing housing, health, child and family services, and cultural programming to Métis citizens across BC. Directly comparable as a regional Indigenous service-delivery organization with overlapping housing, family, and community wellness mandates.

Others

• Aboriginal Head Start Association of British Columbia: The provincial association supporting Aboriginal Head Start programs across BC, including Conayt's AHS program. A network/funder peer that provides direct comparison on AHS programming operations.
• Nicola Valley Institute of Technology: Conayt's direct partner in operating the Aboriginal Head Start daycare on NVIT's Merritt campus. An enabling partner (not competitor) but directly comparable as a Nicola Valley-based Indigenous-serving institution.
• Canadian Aboriginal & Minority Supplier Council (CAMSC): An Indigenous/non-Indigenous partnership organization that, while more business-focused, supports Indigenous community economic development across Canada—adjacent to Conayt's community development mission.

Direct peers

• Kamloops Indian Friendship Centre: A nearby BC urban Friendship Centre operating the same constellation of programs (housing, child care, youth, elders, cultural programming). Closest operational peer given similar size and program mix.
• Cariboo Friendship Centre Society: A direct peer BC Friendship Centre in the adjacent Cariboo region offering nearly identical programming: housing, Aboriginal Head Start, elders, youth, and family services. Most direct operating model comparison for Conayt.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/conaytfriendship
• Instagraminstagram.com/conaytfriendship
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/conayt-friendship-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Conayt Friendship Society