One of the rooms in Sk'ai Zeh Yah, showing off art done by clients and staff

By Tommy Osborne

Youth Services

Youth centre grant set to benefit many in Prince George

Jun 11, 2025 | 3:14 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The Sk’ai Zeh Yah Youth Service Centre, operated by Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS), has recently received a $5000 grant from the City of Prince George.

“We offer basic needs supports, including laundry services, hot meals, showers, somewhere safe and secure to store belongings, somewhere safe to rest in the winter. We offer warming center services, and in the summer we operate as a cooling center as well, and we also have nursing services available and outreach support services, which are provided by social workers,” said CSFS Director of Youth Services Kayla Brownscombe.

“We’re proud to have successfully supported a number of vulnerable youth who are struggling with addictions to secure safe and stable housing, or to access treatment and health services, as well as aftercare supports and services,” she continued.

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The $5000 grant will support two of Sk’ai Zeh Yah’s programs: So’ Co’ Nye Dagilyegh (Peer Recovery Group) and Dunene Najeh – Men Are Healing (men’s group).

“Programs like ours help to prevent deaths from toxic drug poisoning. Our staff have administered numerous lifesaving interventions for youth in this community,” Brownscombe said.

Regarding the peer recover group, CSFS Intensive Youth Social Worker Krista Soles explained this is a healing circle that helps create a safe, stigma-free space for youths to heal and discuss their experiences. Soles notes that the staff members running these healing circles also have lived experience, a really important aspect of helping at risk youth get on the road to recovery.

“It gives people hope and strength, right? Also, when you have questions or concerns or you just kind of want to hear a story that’s going to relate to you, it’s going to make sense and something’s going to click,” Soles said.

“If they need support, we’re always encouraging, you know: ‘we’ll be beside you, we walk in this walk together,'” Soles continued.

The grant money will be used on things like food, clothing, and basic needs, but it will also go towards recreation. This includes things like day trips or bowlings, and it’s actually more than just a good time, it’s also an important part of the recovery process.

“We often see that those recreational activities really heal and support the inner child for some of our vulnerable youth, and we’ve been able to really engage in that with them,” Brownscombe said.

“Men doing activities together and bonding in ways that they wouldn’t normally bond outside of, I mean, what a great way to keep them busy and their hands busy, and it just lets those fluid conversations come out,” Soles added.

Sk’ai Zeh Yah is open to all youths of all backgrounds aged 16-29.

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