Foundry North Shore - North Vancouver, British Columbia

Hannah O. O. A.

Everytime I go there for drop in counselling they do not attend to me I will be waiting for more then 2 hours and still no help the staff there is rude/ and unhelpful half the medical don't even know what there doing and just horrible service over all I wish they can change and be more helpful cause kids need these type of services. When foundry first opened in my opinion they were the best place for me but over the years I feel like less staff care and just make it's kind of uncomfortable to go there cause if some the Receptionist

Dryden B.

I see a lot of reviews complaining about the receptionists but it really must depend when you come, I came on a Friday and was greeted by the sweetest and kindest receptionist who made me feel really welcomed and offered me something to drink and she brought me some food. The actual counselor was great too, felt like everyone there had a genuine interest in my well-being.

Jen H.

Kind and caring people who work in healthcare here (nurses, doctors, counsellors), actively trying to make a difference for youth/young adults. I started going to the Foundry when I was in high school. It is the first place I was cared for and heard on a regular basis by the health care system. The facilities are publicly funded by the government of British Columbia from The Graham Boeckh Foundation [with commitments from St. Paul's Foundation, InnerChange Foundation and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research] bringing initiative to continuous problems overlooked in our community ~ Cherished centre piece ✿

Salida S.

Was told to be here for a 4pm appointment for my son. Confirmed appointment via a text from what appears to be a shared phone. Arrived about 8 minutes before 4pm. There was some confusion with front desk staff as to whom we were seeing as the person who texted my son and set up the appointment didn’t leave their name so staff could not find out who he would be meeting. We then waited 45 minutes before someone finally came out and knew who he was supposed to be seeing. The front desk staff was very helpful but were working with limited information. When multiple people use the same phone to text youth they need to give more clear and concise information on exactly who they are meeting and what they need to tell the front desk staff. When you have a youth in a mental health crisis who already doesn’t want to be there and then make them wait 45 minutes to figure out the who, what, when, where and why it’s extremely difficult for them. The front desk staff was polite, the clinician who came to help us was very polite and when we finally saw the counsellor she was also polite. The issue here isn’t the kindness of the staff but the disorganization and lack of respect for not only my teen in crisis time but for my time as well. Please organize this system better and try not to create more of a mental health challenge for a teen when you should be aiding them.

Jason K.

constant disappointment every time i go here and i’ve used this service for 3+ years. DO NOT GO HERE. the staff have no clue what they’re doing if you’re independent and don’t have a parent there holding your hand lol. medical services aren’t horrible but everything else is more than disappointing i dont even have words

Katelyn T.

My experience has been more harm than good here. The NP’s that I have been assigned to are absolutely horrible and should not be allowed to be “doctors” and prescribe medications. There is a time and a place for NP’s but taking the role as a GP should not be allowed. Secondly, I was denied an important prescription from the NP I have been consistently seeing for months. I have seen the GP at my university a few times that reviewed my medical files from foundry. Keep in mind I can only access the GP at my university’s clinic once a week for 8 months of the year. This is why foundry is my primary care which I have explained to my assigned NP. The GP from my university brought to my attention multiple gaps in my records from foundry as well as a delayed referral to a specialist due to foundry not forwarding a result of a medical test to the specialist. I asked for a refill of my medication from my NP and she told me that I was seeing the GP at my university and that I should go there for my refills. I cannot access the GP entirely which I have explained to the NP. I avoid seeing the NP because she is fake and I can’t stand her. My previous NP was also awful in many ways and did not listen to me and my needs. The few times I have received someone somewhat decent is the time they go on a leave. I feel I have been passed around too many times within the year and a half I have been at foundry. As I am currently pursuing my own post secondary education to go into the medical system, foundry has opened my eyes on various problems that should not be happening with our youth and their medical needs.

Wren J. L.

EDIT: I talked with the manager of Foundry, as well as the staff. They informed me that the front desk staff are not experienced with transgender healthcare and social expectations. They are working on this and hoping to train the staff further in regards to this. I met with Julie Zimmerman (the manager at Foundry) and my friend and I received a formal apology and were invited to help improve their care.

Overall, it seems like their heart is in the right place, but they are just trying to catch up in regards to transgender care.

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TLDR; the front desk staff have proven to be insensitive towards transgender people and bias towards harm reduction seekers.

First time I went, I was repeatedly misgendered by the front desk staff (I'm a transgender man) despite me telling them I was there for an appointment to assess me for double incision surgery. Called by my legal name despite me telling them I didn't go by it.

Second time I went to grab supplies for HRT and was told by the front desk that I NEEDED to go to harm reduction and wouldn't listen to my friend or I about what we were actually there for. They acted very nervous by us just being there and were not kind. When we insisted we weren't there for harm reduction, they told us we needed an appointment. I called ahead and no such thing was needed.

Overall, the Foundry seems like a great place, however their front desk education is lacking in the place it matters most. I don't deserve to get profiled as a "drug addict" (as they seemed to see negatively) when I'm simply there for a common service that they should be aware of as employees at a LGBTQ+ friendly youth clinic.

Leo C.

i've been coming to foundry for two years now, and i rely on the doctors there for all of my medication refills, and all of my medication i need to be able to function. for a long time i've been able to request a medication refill with no hassle over the phone, but now i have to go in person and wait in a queue with no actual guarantee that i'll even be able to get my meds refilled. i really don't get why i can't do it over the phone, as it seems to be more frustrating for everyone involved.