Pamela's Story: The Fresh Start that Changed Everything

Finding support when it mattered most

Pamela connected with Foundry Kelowna soon after arriving. At the time, she was carrying the weight of starting over in a new place, while trying to hold everything together for her children.

“I didn’t know where to start,” she says. “I knew where I wanted to be, but I didn’t know how to get there.”

Through Foundry, Pamela and her oldest daughter, Becky, were connected to counselling, peer support, health services, and practical resources. More importantly, they found something they hadn’t had before.

A sense of community… a village

“They helped me build a village. If something wasn’t there, they helped us find it. I went from survival mode… to being able to thrive.”

Today, Pamela describes her family as healthy, supported, and connected.

Learning that parents need support too

For Pamela, one of the biggest shifts was understanding that support is not just for young people. Parents need it too.

“You need to be healthy and supported to help your children be healthy and supported.”

Through parent peer support and group programs, she found space to ask questions, share openly, and learn alongside others.

“It’s okay to not know. It’s okay to need help,” she says. “That doesn’t make you a bad parent. It means you’re trying.”

Watching her daughter grow

One of Pamela’s proudest moments is seeing the changes in her daughter, Becky.

“She’s learning independence. She’s working, volunteering, learning how to manage money, communicate her feelings, and deal with anxiety.”

Just as important, she says, is what her daughter is learning about herself.

“She’s learning that it’s okay to ask for help.”

For Pamela, that lesson alone is powerful.

From isolation to a ripple of support

Looking back, Pamela describes a clear shift in how she sees herself and her life.

“When I first came, I felt broken. Alone. Scared.”

Now, she describes something different.

“You go from being a victim of circumstances to a survivor. And you realize you’re not alone. You’re never alone.”

That sense of support doesn’t stop with her family. Pamela now shares what she’s learned with others.

“I’ve seen families in crisis, and I tell them to come here. Because I know they’ll get what they need.”

She pauses, then adds:

“It becomes a ripple. People helping people.”

A message to other parents

Pamela is clear about what she would say to any parent who feels overwhelmed or unsure where to turn.

“Just come in. Talk to someone. Tell them what you need. There is no shame in it.”

Reaching out, she says, is an act of care, not failure.

“It means you’re doing your best for your family.”

A simple dream

When asked what she hopes for her daughters, Pamela doesn’t hesitate.

“I want them to be independent, healthy, and to know how they deserve to be treated. To know what they want in life, and how to get there.”

You are not alone

Pamela’s story is not just about what she went through. It’s about what became possible with the right support at the right time.

For anyone feeling alone, stuck, or unsure of their next step, her message is simple:

“Come here. They will help you find what you need. You can move from surviving… to thriving.”

Want to make a difference like Pamela’s story?

Support our Not Alone: Bridging the Gap campaign to help bring Foundry services to the Westside.

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