“We tried. But every door was closed.”

If you’re a parent, a teacher, a caregiver – you may have heard those words. Maybe you’ve said them. Maybe you’ve watched a young person you love lose hope because every step toward help felt like another dead end. An appointment… followed by silence. A referral… with a six-week wait. A system built for paperwork, not people. It shouldn’t be this hard. It doesn’t have to be. Kickstand is the kind of place we wish had existed sooner. It’s free. It’s real. It’s youth-focused. And it’s different. For young people aged 11 to 25, Kickstand offers walk-in and virtual support that wraps around every part of their life: mental health, physical health, substance use, employment, peer support, and more. All under one roof. All in one place. And when a young person walks into Kickstand’s West Edmonton Mall hub for the first time, they’re not met with cold waiting rooms or confusing paperwork. They’re met with warmth. A face that says,

“We’re glad you’re here.”

They sit down and hear, maybe for the first time in a long time,

“Yes. We can help.”

There is no six-week wait to be heard. No shame. No cost. No being shuffled from one service to another. This is a place where hope walks back in. Where healing feels possible. Where families exhale. BandJam believes in that kind of care. That’s why we’re working to fund a full year of operations at Kickstand’s West Edmonton Mall hub. Come to the show. Bring your family. Cheer for your favourite band. Donate if you can. Every dollar gives a young person a chance at something better – maybe their first good day in a long time. Let’s make sure the next time a young person asks for help, the answer is simple:

“Yes. You’ve come to the right place.”