City of Penticton chooses Ookanake Friendship – Penticton Herald

May 21, 2025

The City of Penticton is dropping out of the process to open an Indigenous-focused services centre after council unanimously supported a staff recommendation that would see the Ookanake Friendship Centre (OFC) in Penticton become the leader partner in negotiations with the federal government.

In November of 2024, city staff applied for and successfully received approximately $700,000 on funding through Health Canada’s Emergency Treatment grant program for the implementation of a pilot project that would be an Indigenous-focused services centre or “day space”, said Julie Czeck, general manger of public safety and partnerships during a presentation to council Tuesday.

This grant application success was undertaken after completion of the Penticton Substance Use Research Project, which saw many community partners study the gaps, needs, strengths and experiences of the substance use system in Penticton, said Czeck.

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