The ‘Fire Pit’ Cultural Drop-in Centre
A Gathering Place – Fanning the Flames of Hope
“With each new day hope rises and brings with it opportunities for change”
Positive Living North developed a street-level outreach program called the ‘Fire Pit’ in response to the HIV/AIDS and HCV epidemics in Northern BC.
The Fire Pit is a low-barrier, street-level prevention and wellness program designed to target the foundational root causes of these health inequities: colonization, systemic racism, poverty, homelessness, lack of education, and displacement. Our core philosophy is simple yet profound: creating a culturally safe, non-judgmental space where trust is established allows deep healing to begin.
A Path Toward Healing & Wellness
At the Fire Pit, we engage in daily activities that encourage community members to feel safe, valued, and connected. By participating in cultural practices, individuals can reconnect with themselves, reduce at-risk behaviours, and find mutual support.
We walk alongside our patrons through five key stages of wellness:
- Safety & Acceptance: Cultivating a street-level environment built on comfort, dignity, and acceptance.
- Healthy Relationships: Developing strong connections based on trust, healthy boundaries, and mutual respect.
- Cultural Exploration: Healing through self-awareness, traditional arts, and cultural pride.
- Community Education: Facilitating accessible health literacy through lifelong and informational educational conversations, BINGO games and peer-led learning.
- Sustained Well-being: Empowering individuals to access essential determinants of health, including social networks, housing stability, and personal coping practices.
Services, Resources & Activities
The Fire Pit is a place to relax with friends, share a meal, and build a sense of community ownership. Our programming is entirely driven by the input and leadership of the patrons who use the space, giving individuals a profound sense of pride and agency.
Drop-in visitors can access a variety of resources and activities:
- Culture & Creativity: Traditional arts and crafts, community artwork, and open creative spaces. (Be sure to check out our Re-Claimed Project, a collaborative community mural in downtown Prince George dedicated to HIV awareness: https://www.positivelivingnorth.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/PLNReclaimedMuralProject.pdf).
- Nutrition & Comfort: A daily bite to eat and monthly BINGO sessions, health fairs or service providers’ visits facilitated by our dedicated support staff.
- Health & Advocacy: Direct connection with supportive frontline staff (including support workers and educators), talking circles, and confidential information regarding sexual health, HIV, HCV, and harm reduction.
- Community Resources: Housing lists updated weekly, employment listings updated bi-weekly, and rotating workshops/information booths hosted by the education department with the partnerships of local organizations.
Join Our Community
The Fire Pit is open to all community members wishing to drop in for a visit, find a warm space, or volunteer their unique skills and knowledge. Local organizations and community agencies are also welcome to utilize the centre for collaborative meetings or special events.
Our Location: 1120 Third Avenue, Prince George, BC V2L 3E5
- Phone: 250-563-6113
- Fax: 250-563-6160
Hours of Operation:
- Monday – Friday: 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM
- Closed on statutory holidays.
Please contact the Fire Pit Cultural Drop-In Centre for information on patrons-only support services, education, and harm reduction services
- Fire Pit Supervisor/Program Manager: Rosemary Jamal
- Housing Support Coordinator: Jan Roi
- Nutrition Coordinator: William Laboucan
- Elder Advisors: Violet Bozoki and Annette Maurice