The grinding of skateboard wheels against concrete might not seem like traditional therapy, but at Thunder Bay’s Marina Park skatepark, it’s becoming exactly that. Last Tuesday, the Thunder Bay Youth Centre announced $125,000 in provincial funding to launch innovative mental health programming that pairs skateboarding with counselling services.
“We’re meeting young people where they already feel comfortable,” explains Melissa Anderson, Youth Centre executive director. “For many teens, traditional clinical settings create anxiety. Here, they can talk while skating or just watching others, which breaks down those barriers.”
The initiative comes as Northwestern Ontario grapples with youth mental health statistics that tell a troubling story. According to the Thunder Bay District Health Unit’s 2023 Community Health Assessment, emergency department visits for youth mental health concerns have increased by 31% since 2019, outpacing provincial averages.
City councillor Brian McKinnon, who attended the funding announcement, emphasized the timely nature of the program. “We’ve seen the skateboarding community grow substantially since the pandemic. Young people were looking for outdoor activities, and many found solace in skateboarding. Now we’re building on that natural connection.”
The funding, provided through Ontario’s Community Mental Health and Addictions Strategy, will support two part-time counsellors with backgrounds in both youth mental health and skateboarding culture. The program specifically targets youth aged 12-18, though younger participants will be welcomed with parental involvement.
“This isn’t just about therapy sessions with skateboards in the background,” notes Jordan Netmaker, a local skateboarding instructor who will help coordinate the program. “Skateboarding itself teaches resilience. You fall, you get up, you try again. That’s a powerful metaphor for mental health struggles.”
Local skateboarder Dani Williams, 16, who has been skating at Marina Park for three years, sees the natural fit. “There’s already this unspoken support system here. When someone’s having a rough day, people notice. Now there’ll be trained people who can actually help when someone’s struggling.”
The approach aligns with emerging research on alternative mental health interventions. Dr. Sarah Johnston, a psychologist at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, points to studies showing activity-based therapeutic approaches can reach youth who otherwise avoid seeking help.
“We’re seeing promising results from programs that integrate physical activity with mental health support,” Johnston said. “The physical activity releases endorphins while creating natural opportunities for conversation about difficult topics.”
Program sessions will begin in October, running three evenings weekly plus Saturday afternoons, with plans to continue through winter at an indoor facility still being finalized. Youth can drop in without appointments, addressing another barrier in the current mental health system.
What makes the Thunder Bay program unique is its community-based approach. Local skateboard shop owner Mark Rakowski has pledged to provide boards and equipment for youth who can’t afford their own. “Skateboarding saved me when I was a teenager dealing with anxiety. If we can make this accessible to everyone, regardless of financial situation, we’re removing another barrier.”
The initiative represents a growing recognition that youth mental health requires innovative approaches beyond traditional clinical settings. With emergency departments and formal mental health services stretched thin, community-based interventions are increasingly seen as vital components in the continuum of care.
MPP Kevin Holland, who helped secure the funding, noted the potential for expanding similar programs if successful. “What’s happening here in Thunder Bay could become a model for other communities across Northern Ontario where youth mental health resources are limited.”
For parents like Jennifer Osborne, whose 14-year-old son frequents the skatepark, the program offers hope. “My son would never agree to see a counsellor in an office, but he’s already talking about checking this out. Just having trusted adults present in spaces where teens naturally gather makes such a difference.”
The program will track outcomes through voluntary surveys and attendance metrics, with findings to be shared with the Ministry of Health next year. Organizers hope to demonstrate that meeting youth where they are – literally and figuratively – can create pathways to support that traditional services miss.
As Thunder Bay’s skateboarding community embraces this new dimension, youth mental health advocates are watching closely. If successful, this marriage of kickflips and counselling could roll out across other communities facing similar challenges in connecting with vulnerable youth.
