Lac La Biche is at the heart of a major provincial investment aimed at improving specialized, therapeutic care for youth across northern Alberta.

Alberta’s government is investing $14.5 million to ensure children and youth in rural and underserved communities can access the supports they need closer to home. A significant portion of that funding — $9.5 million — has already been invested in the recently completed renovation of the Lac La Biche campus-based care centre.

A modern, supportive space for youth

The upgraded Lac La Biche facility now offers 10 youth placements in a modern, purpose-built environment designed to support young people with complex needs.

The renovated centre includes:

• A full gym space

• A sensory room

• A dedicated cultural room

The cultural room plays a key role in fostering awareness and understanding of Indigenous cultures, incorporating traditional teachings and helping youth stay connected to their community and identity.

Provincial campus-based care facilities provide safe, structured environments where children and youth receive therapeutic care, onsite education, recreation, and culturally meaningful supports.

Keeping care closer to home

The investment reflects a broader shift toward keeping youth closer to their home communities whenever possible.

“Children and youth in care need safe, nurturing environments and access to comprehensive supports that help them thrive,” said Searle Turton, Minister of Children and Family Services. “These new and improved facilities will make a positive, long-lasting impact on the children and youth they serve.”

Infrastructure Minister Martin Long said the province is prioritizing purpose-built spaces in northern communities.

“Alberta’s government is building modern, purpose-built spaces so children and youth with complex needs in northern communities can get the care they need, closer to home,” Long said.

Lac La Biche anchors regional care model

While the Lac La Biche centre has already been modernized, the remaining $5 million, allocated through Budget 2025, will support design and feasibility work for a new campus-based care centre in Grande Prairie.

That future facility will replace the High Prairie centre, which was significantly damaged by fire in late 2023. Once complete, it is expected to provide an additional 10 youth placements.

MLA Ron Wiebe, representing Grande Prairie-Wapiti, said the Lac La Biche investment sets a strong example for northern Alberta.

“Every young person deserves a safe, supportive place to heal, learn, and build a better future,” Wiebe said. “These investments will ensure vulnerable youth in our region can access specialized, therapeutic care closer to home, in modern facilities that reflect their needs and respect their culture.”

Ongoing commitment to child intervention

The Lac La Biche investment is part of a much larger provincial commitment to child and family services. In 2025 alone, Alberta has invested nearly $1 billion into the child intervention system to address complex cases, placement costs, and workforce support.

Additional funding is being directed toward recruiting, training, and retaining child intervention staff through coaching and mentorship programs.

How care is delivered

Children and Family Services works to keep children and youth safe while prioritizing family connections whenever possible.

When youth cannot remain with their families, care options span a continuum that includes:

• Kinship and foster care

• Group care

• Campus-based care facilities like the Lac La Biche centre

With its newly upgraded facility, Lac La Biche now plays a central role in delivering specialized, therapeutic youth care for northern Alberta, helping ensure young people receive the support they need without being displaced far from their communities.