Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson Letter regarding The Forge

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

2025/08/22

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the City of Langford, I am pleased to share that we have matched the generous $5,000 donation from the West Shore Developers Association in support of The Forge, a new trades-focused mental health centre being developed in Langford by the Construction Foundation of BC. This initiative is a vital step forward in addressing the mental health crisis affecting our region’s skilled trades workforce.

The Forge is built on the principle of peer-led support, where tradespeople with lived experience are trained to support their peers directly on job sites and within industry networks. This model fosters trust breaks down stigma and creates real pathways to recovery. Built into their framework is a full continuum of support options, including access to clinical counselling, recovery coaching, and expedited admission to addiction treatment.

The statistics are alarming:

• The construction industry has the highest suicide rate of all industries in Canada, 53.2 suicides per 100,000 workers, five times higher than all other construction-related fatalities combined.
• 83% of workers report experiencing mental health struggles.
• Substance abuse rates in the trades are nearly double the national average.

These are the people who build our communities, our homes, schools, hospitals, and infrastructure. Their wellbeing is foundational to the strength and resilience of our region.

Given the importance of this organization and the services they provide to all our communities, we are challenging each of your municipalities to match Langford’s $5,000 contribution and stand with us in championing mental health in the trades. Together, we can lead with compassion and collaboration, sending a powerful message that the wellbeing of our tradespeople is a commitment we all share.

Please feel free to reach out to my office at mayor@langford.ca to coordinate further. We would be honoured to work alongside you in supporting this transformative project.

Warm regards,

Mayor Scott Goodmanson City of Langford

t 250.478.7882 e comms@langford.ca Langford.ca 2nd Floor, 877 Goldstream Avenue Langford, BC V9B 2X8