Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre

What Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre does

Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre (DSYTC) is a Canadian non-profit registered charity founded in 1993 by Ottawa entrepreneur and philanthropist Dave Smith. The organization delivers residential and community-based addiction and mental health treatment to youth aged 13-21 across Ontario, with a stated 17,000+ youth and family members served over more than 25 years. Core services include a 90-day Live-In Treatment program, Assessment, Assertive Continuing Care (post-treatment aftercare), Family Services, and educational support, run from a new purpose-built facility in Carp, Ontario that opened in May 2024 and consolidated prior operations in Stittsville, Carp, and Carleton Place.

The business model is a hybrid of publicly funded managed services and philanthropic charitable giving. The Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services is the primary recurring funder — providing per-service operating funding and a one-time CAD $10M+ capital grant in March 2022 for Phase II construction — while individual and corporate donations (including a long-standing partnership with Victor Canada that has raised CAD $200K+ over nearly two decades) and recurring community fundraising events (gala, golf tournaments, basketball tournaments) supplement the operating budget. Treatment services are publicly funded with no disclosed private-pay pricing; admissions come through direct family application, healthcare provider referrals, and Ontario health system pathways including CHEO.

The organization is mid-size with 51 employees, operates regionally within Ontario, and is governed by a Board of Directors (David Kinsman as Chair, Steve Bell as Board Chair per separate sources) under Executive Director Mike Beauchesne. There is no proprietary technology, no API or software platform, and no disclosed AI or machine learning capability; the digital footprint is limited to a website, an online application intake portal, and social media presence. Founding family legacy and brand recognition in Ottawa are central intangible assets, but the founder's death in September 2020 has shifted stewardship to a professional board and executive team.

Name

Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre

Legal name

Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre

Website

https://davesmithcentre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre is a Canadian non-profit, founded in 1993, providing residential addiction and mental health treatment to Ontario youth aged 13-21. It operates a 90-day live-in program, aftercare, and family services from a new purpose-built facility in Carp, Ontario, funded primarily by the Ontario provincial government and charitable donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Addiction and Mental Health Treatment Services

NAICS

Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220), Child and Youth Services (62411), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Mental Health Treatment Centers (HLAFACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Behavioral Health for Children & Adolescents (Youth Services) (HLAFACAL), Court/Community School Programs (Diversion, Probation-Linked, Community Day Schools) (EDAJAEAI), Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM)

Keywords

• Youth addiction treatment
• Residential treatment services
• Mental health counselling
• Continuing care support
• Family therapy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Carp

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 Funding: Provincial government funding from Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. Received over $10 million in provincial funding for Phase II construction to expand capacity by 25%.
2. Donations and Philanthropy: Charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and community partners. Victor Canada has raised over $200,000. Community fundraising events support operations and capital campaigns.
3. Village of Hope Campaign: Capital fundraising campaign to supplement government funding for new purpose-built treatment centre construction.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre provides live-in residential addiction and mental health treatment for youth aged 13–21, centered on a 90-day core treatment program delivered on-site in Ontario. The core offering is complemented by Assessment for intake/eligibility, Assertive Continuing Care for post-treatment follow-up, and Family Services to involve caregivers throughout the treatment journey.

Product overview

Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre offers a comprehensive suite of youth addiction and mental health treatment services. The core offering consists of Live-In Treatment residential programs complemented by Assessment, Assertive Continuing Care (aftercare), and Family Services. Additional support programs include Student Internships for workforce development, a Scholarship Program for continuing education, and an Online Application portal for treatment enrollment. The centre, founded in 1993, consolidates services at a purpose-built facility in Carp, Ontario, serving youth aged 13-21 struggling with substance use and mental health issues.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Live-In Treatment Residential addiction and mental health treatment program for youth aged 13–21, providing 24/7 care in a structured environment with clinical support, group therapy, and educational services, anchored by a 90-day core treatment program.
• Assessment

Quantifiable outcome

• 17,000+ youth and family members supported over 25+ years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Drop the ShameminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual Drop the Shame and Get In The Game golf tournament fundraiser supporting DSYTC. Organized by Hunter Knight (Tournament Founder). 7th annual event in 2024 held at The Marshes Golf Club.
• West Ottawa BasketballminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual Hoops 4 Hope 3-on-3 basketball tournament fundraiser. 3rd annual event in 2024 held at Sacred Heart High School. Supports DSYTC.
• Construction Fights Mental HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGolf tournament fundraiser supporting mental health initiatives including DSYTC. Annual event at various Ottawa-area golf courses.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• Portage: Canada-wide non-profit operating residential addiction treatment programs including a dedicated youth program in Ontario. Directly comparable as a non-profit residential youth addiction treatment provider serving similar ages and populations.
• Renascent Foundation: Ontario-based non-profit providing residential addiction treatment and continuing care programs. Directly comparable as a non-profit residential substance use treatment provider in Ontario, though Renascent primarily serves adults.
• Pine River Institute: Ontario-based residential treatment program for youth and young adults with substance use and mental health issues. Directly comparable in target population (adolescents), treatment model (live-in), and Ontario-based operations, making it the closest peer to DSYTC.
• Stella's Place: Toronto-based non-profit providing mental health support services for youth aged 16–29. Comparable as an Ontario youth-focused mental health service provider, though its delivery model is community-based drop-in and counseling rather than residential treatment.
• Youthdale Treatment Centres: Toronto-based mental health provider offering residential and day treatment programs for youth and adolescents. Directly comparable as an Ontario provider of residential mental health treatment for a similar age range (children and youth).

Emerging players

• Kids Help Phone: Canada-wide youth support service providing e-mental health, counseling, and crisis intervention. Comparable as a youth-focused mental health service provider, though its delivery model is virtual/remote rather than residential.

Broad incumbents

• Homewood Health Centre: One of Canada's largest mental health and addiction treatment providers, operating residential programs and outpatient services across Ontario and nationally. Comparable as a broader incumbent offering residential mental health and substance use treatment, though not youth-specialized.
• Bellwood Health Services: Toronto-based residential and outpatient addiction treatment provider serving adults primarily. Comparable as an Ontario residential addiction treatment operator, though its core population skews adult rather than adolescent.
• Canadian Mental Health Association (Ontario): Large Ontario non-profit providing community-based mental health and addictions services across the province. Comparable as a publicly funded mental health provider serving overlapping populations, though it does not operate youth residential facilities.

Regional players

• The Jean Tweed Centre: Toronto-based non-profit offering substance use, mental health, and gambling treatment with a focus on women and gender-diverse populations. Comparable as an Ontario non-profit community-based treatment provider, though it does not specialize in youth residential care.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DaveSmithYouth
• Facebookfacebook.com/davesmithyouthtreatmentcentre
• Instagraminstagram.com/davesmithcentre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dave-smith-youth-treatment-centre-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre