BONNYVILLE – The Hive by Kickstand will have an opportunity to seek Town of Bonnyville funding through the regular budget process after council decided not to redirect ,000 originally earmarked for another youth mental health program.

Council considered the request Aug. 25 following the closure of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Collaborative (CAMHC), which had been supported through the Bonnyville Primary Care Network (PCN).

As part of its 2026 budget, the Town had approved $75,000 to the PCN in support of CAMHC. The collaborative later advised the Town that it would end operations in May because it did not have sufficient funding to continue operating sustainably.

Following the closure, the PCN asked council to consider redirecting the already-budgeted $75,000 to The Hive by Kickstand to support continued youth mental health services in Bonnyville.

The request would not have required council to add another $75,000 to the 2026 budget. The question before council was specifically whether funding approved for CAMHC could be transferred to The Hive.

Council considers how funding should be allocated

The request generated considerable discussion around the council table.

Councillors acknowledged the importance of youth mental health services and the work being done by The Hive, while considering how the Town should handle funding originally approved for a different program.

Part of the discussion focused on consistency with the Town’s community funding process and whether redirecting unused funding could create expectations for similar requests in the future.

Council also discussed the broader question of municipal involvement in funding health services, which are primarily a provincial responsibility.

There were differing views on whether the $75,000 should be redirected for the remainder of 2026 or whether The Hive should come forward through the Town’s regular funding process.

Ultimately, council chose the latter approach and voted to decline the reallocation.

The Hive presented to council in July

The decision followed a July 14 presentation from The Hive, which council requested before deciding on the funding.

The Hive operates an integrated youth services model for young people ages 11 to 25, providing access to mental health and substance-use supports, peer support, social services, Indigenous wellness services and physical and sexual health services.

From April 2025 through March 2026, The Hive reported 4,223 visits involving 1,443 unique participants, including 458 new participants.

The organization told council the $75,000 would help maintain its existing level of service, including free, in-person mental health counselling and peer support, while also supporting programming, meals and basic needs, recreation and wellness activities and crisis services.

The Hive is also pursuing other funding through grants, fundraising and Kickstand.

Funding door remains open

Council’s decision does not prevent The Hive from receiving Town funding in the future.

During the discussion, the Town’s upcoming community organization funding and 2027 budget process was identified as an avenue for The Hive to bring forward a funding request alongside other organizations seeking municipal support.

Council ultimately declined only the request to redirect the $75,000 originally allocated to CAMHC.