Called The Forge, the facility on Spencer Road in Langford will provide mental-health and addictions programs for those in the trades
A former biker clubhouse in Langford is being turned into a hub to provide support and referrals to construction-industry workers with mental-health and addictions issues.
The Construction Foundation of B.C. is behind the project, which will be called The Forge. The official launch is set for Thursday at the former clubhouse at 2775 Spencer Rd., near Spencer Middle School.
“Whether you swing a hammer or manage a site, lead a crew or care about one, there’s a place for you in this conversation,” the foundation said in a statement.
The single-storey, 1,456-square-foot building went on the market for close to $1.5 million last year.
The clubhouse was one of nine properties and three vehicles searched on Jan. 31, 2024, in a multi-jurisdiction operation, leading to the seizure of numerous drugs, including about 450 grams of fentanyl.
The building, which sits on a 7,400-square-foot lot, served as headquarters for the Savages Motorcycle Club, a group that the B.C. Combined Forces Enforcement Unit — which targets gangs — has identified as a support club for the Hells Angels.
At the time it hit the market, West Shore RCMP said they believed their investigation “had something to do with” the fact the clubhouse was listed for sale, noting it was possible an application would be made to the province’s Civil Forfeiture Office to take over the property.
Foundation executive director Abigail Fulton said Friday her group decided to buy the building because it was seeking a location that could serve as a hub and a place for tradespeople who needed help.
“A place that was once notorious can now be glorious,” Fulton said. “It’s an opportunity to support tradespeople.”
The hope is to have the refurbished facility open in 10 to 12 months, she said.
There are still Savages signs and other remnants inside connected to its former use, along with damage to walls and other areas. A fundraising drive has begun to collect $500,000 for the renovation.
With completion still some time away, the foundation is looking to start providing counselling and other services to workers, and to give them advice on where to go for any treatment they might need, Fulton said.
She said there is an interim location nearby on Meaford Avenue, provided by Viking Properties, where services can be offered for the time being.
Once open, she said the Spencer Road facility will focus on giving workers fellowship, support and guidance to programs, rather than being a full-fledged treatment centre.
The foundation’s website says the construction industry has the highest suicide rate of all industries in Canada, with 53.2 suicides per 100,000 workers — five times higher than all other construction-related fatalities combined.
It says 83% of workers report experiencing mental-health struggles, while substance-abuse rates in the trades are nearly double the national average.
The Canadian Safety Training Centre cites chronic pain from injuries and job instability as possible factors in the industry’s high suicide rate, which is 65 per cent higher than in other industries, the training centre said.
It said physical pain and mental stress can contribute to workers’ use of alcohol and drugs.
Fulton said workers with “lived experience” of job-related health issues have been serving as advisers in the planning process.
“All of our peer supporters who’ve been getting trained over the last number of months have lived experience and know how to support other tradespeople.”
The B.C. Construction Association pegs the province’s construction-industry workforce at 243,000.
