Former biker clubhouse to become wellness hub for tradespeople in Langford

Key Takeaways:

• A former biker clubhouse in Langford is being transformed into The FORGE, a peer-led wellness hub specifically designed to support construction and trades workers facing mental health and addiction challenges.
• In B.C., construction workers account for a disproportionately high number of toxic drug deaths, with factors like physical strain, job insecurity, and stigma around mental health contributing to the crisis.
• The Construction Foundation of BC has launched a capital campaign to raise $500,000 for the renovation, calling on industry partners and the community to help create a permanent space for wellness and recovery in the trades.

The Whole Story:

A former biker clubhouse in Langford is being transformed into a wellness centre for tradespeople facing mental health and addiction challenges.

Dubbed The FORGE, the community-led project has officially broken ground in the Westshore and aims to provide peer-led support tailored to the needs of construction and skilled trades workers. The initiative is spearheaded by the Construction Foundation of BC (CFBC), which is launching a $500,000 capital campaign to fund the renovation.

The new facility will bring together recovery coaches, clinicians, and peer supporters — many with firsthand experience of the struggles facing those in the trades industry.

Construction workers in Canada — and particularly in British Columbia — are among the hardest hit by the mental health and addiction crisis. According to WorkSafeBC, construction is one of the top industries for overdose deaths among workers, with many cases linked to toxic drug exposure among men aged 30 to 59. A 2022 report from the B.C. Coroners Service found that construction workers accounted for nearly 20 per cent of all toxic drug deaths where occupation was known. Long hours, job insecurity, physical strain, and a culture that can discourage help-seeking contribute to the heightened risks.

“The rejuvenation of our future wellness hub represents more than bricks and mortar; it’s a symbol of recovery, connection, and transformation for the trades community,” said Abigail Fulton, executive director of the CFBC.

The Foundation is calling on industry partners, labour organizations, and the broader community to contribute to the project, which it hopes will become a permanent support space for current and future generations of tradespeople.