For years, 140 Elmwood Avenue was a place where North Bay children came to learn. Today, the former school is once again serving youth and families, this time as a community hub that provides space for more than 30 organizations.
Owned by the Children’s Aid Society of the District of Nipissing and Parry Sound (CASNPS), the vision for Elmwood was simple: bring programs, services and opportunities together in one welcoming place.
“Elmwood is about making it easier for children, youth and families to find support and access resources in the community,” said CASNPS Executive Director Nancy Lafrance Rich. “A young person might come to Elmwood to play basketball, have dinner or take part in a community event, all at no cost.”
Along the way, they get to know staff, clinicians and community partners, helping them feel more comfortable accessing mental health services and other supports.
The evolution of the building has also seen the creation of the Elmwood Youth Collaborative. Approximately 10 organizations and sectors working with children, youth and families are part of the Collaborative. The group includes CASNPS, the City of North Bay, North Bay Regional Health Centre, Hands TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca, Nipissing Parry Sound District Health Unit, Canadian Mental Health Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Youth Justice, Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario and the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre.
“Bringing different organizations into the same space gives us an opportunity to work differently together,” said Lafrance Rich. “We can learn from one another, identify gaps and better coordinate support for young people and families.”
From former school to community hub
Renovations at 140 Elmwood Avenue began in 2023, made possible by a foundational donation from the Beauchamp family. Since then, local businesses, service clubs, granting organizations and community partners have contributed to programs, equipment and ongoing improvements.
Three years on, Elmwood is home to two ECPP classrooms, a nurse practitioner clinic, EarlyON programming, after-school and weekly youth programs, summer camps, a community kitchen, Early Intervention Services, recreational opportunities, mental health and family supports, youth mentorship programs, and a youth pantry and clothing boutique.
Elmwood continues to grow, with another phase planned that could bring even more services to the community.
Growing with the community
In 2024, the City of North Bay committed $200,000 toward plans to develop the building’s remaining unfinished space into a Clinical and Social Services Wing. While construction has not yet begun, CASNPS says the concept has continued to evolve as new partners and programs have joined Elmwood.
The goal is now to create flexible space that can accommodate clinical services, programming and collaboration among multiple organizations while ensuring the project is practical and sustainable.
CASNPS is also continuing to pursue funding opportunities and partnerships, including its long-standing goal of Elmwood becoming a designated Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario site.
“What Elmwood looks like today has been shaped by the people and organizations that use it,” said Lafrance Rich. “As we look to its next chapter, we want to build on what is already working and make sure the space continues to respond to what young people, families and our community need.”
What began as the redevelopment of a former school has become an example of what can happen when organizations share more than a building. By bringing programs, people and partnerships under one roof, Elmwood is creating more ways for children, youth and families to find support, connection and opportunity close to home.
