The Bonnyville Child and Adolescent Mental Health Collaborative is closing its doors at the end of May 2026, leaving a major gap in local mental health support for youth and families.

Funding shortfall forces closure

In a letter to community partners, the Collaborative confirmed the shutdown is due to a “continued lack of stable and sustainable funding.”

Despite efforts over the past four years to keep the program running with limited resources, organizers say it is no longer possible to maintain services at the level the community needs.

A decade of impact in the Lakeland

Since launching in 2016, the Collaborative has supported hundreds of children, youth, and families across the region.

The program worked closely with schools and relied on a dedicated clinical team, building strong relationships with families seeking mental health support. Local backing from the Town and MD of Bonnyville also played a key role in keeping services available over the years.

What happens next for families

Support won’t disappear overnight. The program’s Mental Health Navigator will remain in place until the end of May to help families transition, answer questions, and connect people to other available resources.

However, beyond that point, there is no confirmed replacement service in place.

Call for advocacy

The Collaborative is urging community members and partners to push for change, specifically calling on residents to contact MLA Scott Cyr and advocate for sustainable funding for child and youth mental health services.

A significant loss for the region

The closure marks the end of a program many families have relied on for nearly a decade. Organizers say they remain hopeful that future opportunities could bring similar services back, but for now, this chapter is coming to a close.