Freedom Quest Youth Services Society

What Freedom Quest Youth Services Society does

Freedom Quest Youth Services Society is a non-profit society registered in British Columbia, Canada, founded in 2005 and headquartered in Castlegar, BC. It delivers free, confidential support services to young people aged 6-19 across the West Kootenay Boundary Region, with a focus on substance use, mental wellness, trauma, and family relationship challenges. The organization serves youth and families through a coordinated portfolio of programs: Youth Substance Use Support Services (community-embedded support workers in 7+ communities), Youth Substance Use and Family Counselling (a travelling counsellor), the Regional Alcohol & Drug Day Treatment Program (RADD, a day treatment program with transportation), Therapeutic Recreation Programming (delivered through school and partner organization partnerships), and Residential Services (two MCFD-funded youth homes — Eagle House in Castlegar and Freedom House in Trail). Programs are youth-centered, trauma-informed, and harm-reduction focused, with services provided at no cost to participants.

The organization is funded primarily through two government contracts: Interior Health (which funds Youth Substance Use Support Services, Youth Substance Use and Family Counselling, and Therapeutic Recreation Programming) and the Ministry of Children and Family Development (which fully funds Residential Services). Individual donations are also accepted. No proprietary technology systems are disclosed; service delivery is relationship-driven and community-embedded. The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on professional referrals from social workers, health nurses, and outreach workers, self-referrals from youth and families, and partnerships with local schools and youth-serving organizations. In 2025, Freedom Quest published a 15-year Strategic Plan (2025-2040) anchored in values of Self-determination, Social Justice, Service, Integrity, Confidentiality, and Competence, with a foundational goal of "Magnify Organizational Vitality" and four pillars: Transformational Approaches, Wellbeing, Advocacy, and Service Stability.

Name

Freedom Quest Youth Services Society

Legal name

Freedom Quest Youth Services Society

Website

https://freedomquestyouthservices.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Freedom Quest Youth Services Society is a Castlegar, BC-based non-profit providing free, confidential substance use, mental health, and trauma support services to youth aged 6-19 across the West Kootenay Boundary Region, funded by Interior Health and the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO), Wraparound Student Support & Case Management Services (At-Risk K–12) (EDAJAEAJ)

Keywords

• Youth substance use support
• Youth counselling services
• Residential youth care
• Therapeutic recreation programs
• Community youth services

Headquarters

HQ city

Castlegar

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Funding - Interior Health: Interior Health fully funds Youth Substance Use Support Services, Youth Substance Use and Family Counselling, and Therapeutic Recreation Programming. This is a recurring government contract funding model.
2. Government Funding - Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD): MCFD fully funds Residential Services including the two youth residences (Eagle House in Castlegar and Freedom House in Trail). This is a recurring government contract funding model.
3. Donations: Individual donations accepted via online donation process, email money transfer, or cheque. Donations support the organization's programs and services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Freedom Quest Youth Services Society delivers free, confidential, trauma-informed support for young people aged 12-19 (and residential care for ages 6-18) across the West Kootenay Boundary Region of British Columbia. Core offerings include outreach-based Youth Substance Use Support Services, Youth Substance Use and Family Counselling, the Regional Alcohol & Drug Day Treatment Program (RADD), Therapeutic Recreation Programming, and Residential Services operating two staffed homes (Eagle House in Castlegar and Freedom House in Trail). All programs are provided at no cost to participants and are funded by Interior Health and the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD).

Product overview

Freedom Quest Youth Services Society operates as a non-profit social services organization providing a coordinated portfolio of free, confidential youth support programs across the West Kootenay Boundary Region of British Columbia. The core offerings include Youth Substance Use Support Services (outreach workers in 7 communities), Youth Substance Use and Family Counselling (travelling counsellor services), and the Regional Alcohol & Drug Day Treatment Program (RADD - a day treatment program with transportation and outdoor recreation). These are complemented by Therapeutic Recreation Programming (offered through schools and partner organizations) and Residential Services (two staffed homes in Trail and Castlegar for youth aged 6-18). Administrative support services include Residence Coordinator staffing, Clinical Supervisor oversight, and accreditation management. All services are youth-centered, trauma-informed, and provided at no cost to participants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RADD (Regional Alcohol & Drug Day Treatment Program): A day treatment program for young people between ages 12-19 motivated to make changes to their substance use. Located in Castlegar with transportation provided.
• Eagle House
• Freedom House

Products and services

• Youth Substance Use Support Services Free, confidential outreach-based support for young people aged 12-19 who are negatively impacted by their own substance use or the substance use of others. Includes one-on-one counselling, case management, crisis intervention, referrals, transportation, and text/phone availability through Youth Substance Use Support Workers embedded in Nelson, Castlegar, Trail, Salmo, Grand Forks, Nakusp, and Kaslo.
• Youth Substance Use and Family Counselling Counselling services for youth aged 12-19 experiencing substance use alongside mental wellness struggles, with concurrent support for families. The counsellor travels throughout the West Kootenay Boundary Region to meet youth and families, addressing relationships, mental health, trauma, and substance use.
• Regional Alcohol & Drug Day Treatment Program (RADD) Day treatment program for youth aged 12-19 motivated to make changes to their substance use, located in Castlegar with door-to-door transportation. Includes group sessions on relationships, coping strategies, boundaries, family, emotions, and trauma, plus weekly outdoor recreation such as canoeing, hiking, camping, and biking.
• Therapeutic Recreation Programming Therapeutic recreation programming delivered through local schools and youth-serving organizations for youth aged 12-19 impacted by substance use. Activities include skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, overnight retreats, mountain biking, fat biking, and canoeing. Fully funded by Interior Health.
• Residential Services 24/7 staffed residential care for youth aged 6-18 who benefit from trauma and attachment-informed, harm-reduction-focused caregivers. Operates two homes: Eagle House in Castlegar and Freedom House in Trail, with the latter serving up to 2 youth with multiple diagnoses and complex needs. Fully funded by MCFD.

Quantifiable outcome

• Youth report feeling comfortable, safe, and non-judged in sessions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD)coreOthersMCFD is a core government partner that fully funds Freedom Quest's Residential Services. Youth are placed in Freedom Quest's two residences (Eagle House and Freedom House) through MCFD referrals. The partnership involves ongoing oversight, contract requirements, and collaboration on care plans for youth in the program.
• Interior HealthcoreOthersInterior Health is the primary health authority funder for Freedom Quest's substance use services. They fully fund Youth Substance Use Support Services, Youth Substance Use and Family Counselling, and Therapeutic Recreation Programming. Contract managers oversee clinical service delivery quality.
• COINSminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCommunity partner referenced in the context of residential care coordination. COINS is one of the community resources that children/youth in the residential program access through Freedom Quest's coordination efforts.
• FoundryminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFoundry is referenced as a community partner providing services that children/youth in residential care can access. Freedom Quest coordinates with Foundry as part of ensuring youth have access to needed resources.
• CYMH (Child and Youth Mental Health)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCYMH is a government mental health service that Freedom Quest coordinates with for residential care youth who need clinical counselling and behavioural support services.
• CYSN (Child and Youth Support Network)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCYSN is referenced as a community partner that Freedom Quest coordinates with regarding residential program integration and support services for children and youth.
• Selkirk CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelkirk College is a local educational institution where Victor Villa (Board Treasurer) teaches Psychology. The college's Human Services Program may provide student practicum placements and represents a community partnership for workforce development.
• Local Schools and Youth-Serving OrganizationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchools and youth-serving organizations partner with Freedom Quest to offer therapeutic recreation programming to young people between ages 12-19. These organizations facilitate access to youth who benefit from recreation programming as an alternative to substance use.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Aboriginal Mother Centre Society: BC non-profit providing culturally-grounded support for Indigenous youth and families. Comparable through shared youth/family support mission and government-funded operational model, particularly relevant given Freedom Quest's stated decolonization and cultural safety commitments.

Direct peers

• Foundry: BC-wide network of youth wellness centres offering integrated mental health, substance use, and primary care services for ages 12-24. Comparable as a youth-focused, government-funded, free service provider; listed as a Freedom Quest community partner.
• PLEA Community Services Society of BC: BC non-profit providing residential care, counselling, and youth justice services for children and youth. Directly comparable in operating MCFD-funded residential homes and trauma-informed youth services.
• Liberty Wellness and Recovery Centre: BC-based organisation providing substance use and mental health recovery services for youth and adults. Comparable in mission focus on substance use recovery and government-funded service delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Mental Health Association - BC Division: Major provincial provider of mental health and substance use services including youth programs. Comparable through shared mental health/substance use mission and government-funded service delivery model.
• Pacific Community Resources Society (PCRS): Large BC non-profit providing youth substance use, mental health, housing, and employment services across multiple regions. More diversified and broader than Freedom Quest but operates in an overlapping service domain with similar government contract funding.
• BC Children's Hospital - Sunny Hill Health Centre: Provincial tertiary paediatric facility providing specialized mental health and substance use services for youth. Comparable in serving youth with complex mental health and substance use needs, though at a different level of care intensity.
• John Howard Society of British Columbia: BC non-profit providing youth and adult counselling, restorative justice, and community-based services. Comparable as a mission-driven social services provider serving at-risk populations with government contracts.

Regional players

• Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs: BC interior-focused youth services organization providing counselling, recreation, and outreach programs. Comparable service mix in a neighbouring region with similar rural delivery challenges.
• Kiro Wellness Manor / Kootenay Family Place: Regional non-profit serving children, youth, and families in the Kootenays. Operates in the same geographic area as Freedom Quest and was led by Jim Fisher (a community figure referenced in Freedom Quest's history), indicating overlapping networks and mission.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/freedom-quest-youth-services-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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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 Freedom Quest Youth Services Society