PA Friendship Center

What PA Friendship Center does

Port Alberni Friendship Center (legal name: Port Alberni Friendship Center) is a non-profit society incorporated in British Columbia, Canada, established in 1965 to deliver culturally-based social services to Indigenous peoples living away from their home community in Port Alberni and surrounding areas. It is one of more than 100 friendship centers across Canada and 25 in BC, affiliated with the National Association of Friendship Centres and the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres. Governance is provided by a community-elected board of up to 10 persons, with administration led by an Executive Director and a diverse staff described as up to 80 individuals. The organization operates four Port Alberni locations at 3555 4th Avenue (head office), 3555 4th Avenue Unit B (Treasure Our Young Ones Child Care Centre), 3675 4th Avenue (Wałyaqił Tiny Home Village, 30 units), and 3939 8th Avenue (Wałyaqił Shelter and Supportive Housing).

The service portfolio spans 15 named programs across social services, family and youth support, legal advocacy, housing, and early childhood education. Core offerings include Addictions & Mental Health Counseling (Island Health-funded), Family Law Advocacy and Outreach Legal Advocate programs (Law Foundation of BC-funded), Family Support, CAIS-Housing Subsidy, Early Childhood Development, Early Years, Brighter Futures Parenting, Elders Program, Youth Drop-in (ages 10-29), the Steps to Success employment program launched October 2019, and the Healthy Care Pregnancy Program Pilot Project. Housing assets include a 30-unit 24-hour supported tiny home village and an emergency shelter with daily meals, supervised use site, and on-site counseling. The Child Care Centre, opened January 23, 2017, integrates a Nuu-chah-nulth Language Nest immersion program staffed by Elder speakers including Patricia Frank (čišma). No proprietary technology platform is described; service delivery is in-person at physical sites with referrals from partner agencies.

The revenue model is grant-funded rather than commercial: operations are funded by federal Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and Provincial Capacity funds, with program-specific funding from MCFD, Island Health, Law Foundation of BC, BC Housing, Urban Aboriginal Head Start, CAPC, First Peoples Cultural Council, MIRR, New Horizons, Community Gaming Grants, and the Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness. Most programs are free to clients; the childcare operates on a fee-for-service model potentially subsidized through government childcare subsidy, and the Wellness Centre ($600/day) and Clutesi Hall ($400/day) are available for community rental with a $150 damage deposit. Go-to-market is community-led via word-of-mouth, agency referrals, and Facebook/social media presence. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

PA Friendship Center

Legal name

Port Alberni Friendship Center

Website

https://pafriendshipcenter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Port Alberni Friendship Center is a non-profit Indigenous social services organization established in 1965 in Port Alberni, BC, delivering culturally-based programs including addictions counseling, family support, legal advocacy, childcare with Nuu-chah-nulth language immersion, employment training, and supported housing to Indigenous peoples living away from their home community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Indigenous social services
• Community support programs
• Mental health counseling
• Affordable housing services
• Childcare services

Headquarters

HQ city

Port Alberni

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Government Funding - Federal: Operations budget funded by Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC). Primary programs funded by Urban Aboriginal Head Start, First Peoples Cultural Council.
2. Government Funding - Provincial: Provincial Capacity funds from the Provincial Government. Primary programs funded by MCFD, Public Health, MIRR, CAPC, New Horizons.
3. Law Foundation of BC: Primary program funding for Family Law Advocacy Program and Outreach Legal Advocate program.
4. Island Health: Funding for Addictions & Mental Health Counseling program.
5. Gaming Grants and Fundraising: Community Gaming Grants, fund raising, donations and admin funding from other programs.
6. BC Housing: Funding for CAIS-Housing Subsidy Program and housing-related supportive services.
7. Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness: Funding for CAIS program providing culturally supportive services and monthly rental supplements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PA Friendship Center is a non-profit Indigenous social service organization that provides culturally based wraparound supports to Indigenous peoples and the broader community of Port Alberni, British Columbia. Its core offerings include addictions and mental health counseling, family support, legal advocacy, childcare, housing (including a tiny home village and emergency shelter), and employment training, delivered through a community-governed non-profit model.

Product overview

Port Alberni Friendship Center operates as an Indigenous social service organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs and services. The core offerings include social services programs (Addictions & Mental Health Counseling, Family Support, Family Law Advocacy, Outreach Legal Advocate), family and parenting programs (Brighter Futures, Early Childhood Development, Early Years), Elders and Youth programs, and the Steps to Success employment training program. Housing services include the Wałyaqił Tiny Home Village (30 units) and Wałyaqił Shelter and Supportive Housing. The Child Care Centre (ʔiiḥmisuk t̓aatn̓aʔis) provides infant/toddler care and the Language Nest for Nuu-Chah-Nulth language immersion. Together these programs serve Indigenous peoples and all community members through community-based, culturally connected services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Addictions and Mental Health Counseling Culturally based addictions and mental health counseling services provided to Indigenous community members and the broader Port Alberni community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30 tiny homes providing 24-hour supported housing for vulnerable community members
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational umbrella organization; the Port Alberni Friendship Center is one of 100+ friendship centres across Canada, 25 in BC, part of this network.
• BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial umbrella organization connecting the Port Alberni center with the broader BC friendship centre network.
• Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeekly housing support provided at Wałyaqił Shelter and Supportive Housing Program through outreach visits.
• Ministry of Social Development and Poverty ReductioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlexible support via Daphne Hollins offering essential income assistance and resource coordination at the shelter on-site.
• Island Health - ACT Team (Assertive Community Treatment)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIsland Health ACT team provides daily on-site mental health and substance use services at the Tiny Home Village.
• Island Health - IORT (Intensive Outreach and Recovery Team)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIsland Health IORT team provides intensive outreach services to residents of Wałyaqił Tiny Home Village.
• Island Health - Community Care Nurses, HOP, MHSUcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple Island Health teams including Community Care Nurses, Hospital Outreach Program, and Mental Health and Substance Use specialists provide services at Wałyaqił.
• Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Health Nurses from the Tribal Council join the Eating in Balance Group to offer prenatal, postnatal information and immunizations.
• Bread of LifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner referenced in the Outreach Legal Advocate program context.
• CAT Team Peer WorkersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeer workers supporting residents at Wałyaqił Tiny Home Village.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Victoria Native Friendship Centre: BC Indigenous friendship centre providing social services, housing, cultural programming, and youth and elders programs to urban Indigenous communities. Closely comparable service mix and funding model.
• Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society: Direct peer as another BC-based Indigenous friendship centre delivering wraparound social services, cultural programs, and housing support to urban Indigenous peoples. Highly comparable mandate, funding mix, and program architecture.
• Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness Society: BC-wide Indigenous homelessness coalition and CAIS program co-funder with PA Friendship Center; directly comparable in mission around culturally aligned housing and support services.
• Lu'ma Native Housing Society: Metro Vancouver Indigenous housing provider offering affordable and supportive housing with wraparound cultural programs, comparable to PA Friendship Center's Wałyaqił Tiny Home Village and Shelter operations.
• Carrier Sekani Family Services: BC Indigenous child, family, and health services organization delivering wraparound supports with cultural programming; comparable scope to PA Friendship Center's family support, mental health, and childcare offerings.
• Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre: Vancouver Island-based Indigenous social services organization delivering family support, housing, employment training, and cultural programming under the same NAFC/BCAAFC umbrella as PA Friendship Center.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC): National network and policy body for 100+ Canadian friendship centres. Comparable sector context and programming framework, though operating as a national umbrella rather than a service-delivery peer.
• BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres: Provincial umbrella and advocacy body for the 25 BC friendship centres including PA Friendship Center; broader governance and capacity-building mandate rather than direct program delivery.
• First Nations Health Authority: BC-wide First Nations health authority that funds and coordinates Indigenous health programming including those delivered at PA Friendship Center; broader regional mandate rather than single-site social services delivery.

Regional players

• Vancouver Island Métis Family Services: Vancouver Island Indigenous social services organization delivering family support, child welfare, and cultural programs to Métis and other Indigenous families; comparable service mix in the same regional context.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/253708314740861
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pa-friendship-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 PA Friendship Center