Access to mental health care remains one of the biggest challenges facing many communities and in Bathurst, a new initiative is stepping forward to help close that gap.

The Anchor Community Collective is a non-profit organization designed to provide sliding-scale and no-cost therapy services for people who face barriers. Whether it’s youth, seniors, individuals experiencing financial hardship, or those fleeing intimate partner violence, Anchor’s mission is simple, and that’s to make support easily accessible.

The idea for a non-profit had been part of IronMind Wellness’s long-term vision since day one. But as IronMind continued to grow and stabilize, the capacity finally emerged to turn that vision into reality.

Right now, The Anchor Community Collective is in its early development phase. The immediate focus is on recruiting founding board members. This includes a president, secretary, and treasurer, as well as completing the incorporation process.

Once established, the organization plans to pursue service contracts, apply for charitable status, and seek corporate sponsorships. These steps will help fund in-house programs and allow Anchor to bring in counselling and social work interns who can provide supervised therapy services to the community.

The name “Anchor Community Collective” reflects its grassroots approach. Community involvement is central to the model, with plans to include local voices on the board and potentially even youth or service users to help guide decision-making. The goal is to work collaboratively with other organizations in the region, ensuring services respond directly to real local needs.

The model draws inspiration from similar non-profit programs elsewhere in Atlantic Canada, where free or low-cost services have proven both sustainable and impactful. By adapting those ideas locally, The Anchor Community Collective hopes to create something uniquely suited to Bathurst.

The timeline is ambitious but achievable. “The goal is to have a board in place within the next three months.” says Jeremy Varner. From there, the groundwork will be laid through bylaws and policies, with hopes of accepting contracts soon after. If all goes according to plan, Anchor could be actively delivering services within the year.

Growth will be intentional and organic, following the same philosophy that is helping IronMind Wellness thrive.

That growth is already visible. In just one year at its current location, IronMind Wellness has expanded its team, filled caseloads, and built strong momentum. Demand has been so high that referrals for Jeremy have been on pause, and additional service contracts are now in place. The response from the community has been overwhelming, reinforcing just how much support is needed.

Looking ahead, there are also plans to expand availability beyond standard weekday hours. Many people can only attend therapy in the evenings or on weekends, and efforts are underway to bring in an independent contractor who could help fill that gap.At its core, The Anchor Community Collective is about connection.

We wish Jeremy Varner and the team at IronMind Wellness all the best in growing this idea into a support system that could greatly benefit our region.

That’s it for another edition of the Northern Heat Report. The place you come to listen to the stories that have not yet been discovered.