The Centre is located in the interior of British Columbia on the Okanagan Reserve. We are at the end of Emery Louis Road, just off Highway 97 North (Vernon-Kamloops Hwy), approximately 22 kilometers northwest of Vernon and 99 kilometers southeast of Kamloops. A 12-foot sign marks the turn-off to Round Lake Road. After turning off Highway 97 N, follow the posted signs for 2 kilometres to the Centre. Click for directions.

Transportation from the Lower Mainland is available through Ebus. Routes are available from Vancouver to Vernon by reservation only through Ebus at 1-877-769-3287 or myebus.ca   If travelling by air, the nearest commercial airport is in Kelowna. A shuttle from the Kelowna Airport into the City of Vernon costs $49 by reservation only through Let’s Go Transportation at (778) 821-0101 or letsgotransportation.ca. The taxi from Vernon to Round Lake costs $60 (using Vernon Taxi).

Clients are booked on a first-come-first-served basis and are booked only upon receipt of all information required in the intake process (completed application for treatment, client medical, TB test, etc). Once an intake is fully booked, clients are put on the list for the next intake. The referring counsellor can request that the client is put on the waiting list for an earlier intake.

Check our intake calendar here

Treatment cycles last 5 or 6 weeks; please see the intake calendar for specific dates and lengths. Round Lake operates on a closed-intake system, which means there are designated intake dates throughout the year. All clients in each group start and end their treatment on the same dates, and then a new group comes in. In addition, 4-week programs are offered during each intake for past clients who have maintained their sobriety and want a refresher. These clients would arrive in week two of an existing treatment program and end (Marble) with that group.

Some details on the various aspects of the program can be found on the What to Expect page.  Clients take part in healing circle, videos, art therapy, journals, Elders teachings, sweats, traditional ceremonies, 12-step work and speakers. These will aid clients in gaining personal insight into such issues as trauma, grief, communication, boundaries, relationships, family of origin, stress & anger management, and addictions & relapse prevention.

Yes. Due to legal restrictions all clients must be at least 19 years old at the date of their intake into treatment – we cannot make any exceptions to this rule.

Visit the Admissions Criteria

There is no per diem charge for Status Indians and Recognized Inuit who are residents of Canada. Travel to and from the Centre is the responsibility of the client; it may be possible to have this covered by FNIHB (federal) or MHR (provincial). Self pay admission is $200 per day.

Visit the Program Cost Page

All clients must be referred by a recognized alcohol and drug abuse counsellor, mental health counsellor, or family counsellor, and must have attended at least 6 sessions with this counsellor (preferably more). The counsellor must also be willing to provide post-treatment counselling as part of your aftercare program.

Referral workers can download the most recent copy of our Application for Treatment (here). If downloading is not an option for you, please call or write and we will send you a copy by mail or fax one to you.  Prospective clients must see a counsellor to obtain our application for treatment (we do not accept self-referrals). All prospective clients need to adhere to intake package requirements.

No, we offer addictions counselling services only. Round Lake does not have the medical facilities nor the resources required to support persons who need detoxification. For this reason it is essential that clients have a minimum of 14 days substance free from alcohol and drugs and 5 months substance free of crystal meth prior to their date of intake. Any client arriving without the minimum sobriety time will not be admitted to treatment. We do recommend a longer period of sobriety if at all possible, so that the body has had sufficient time to detoxify before the person commences their intensive treatment program. Longer sobriety times before treatment result in clients who have greater success in maintaining their sobriety after treatment.

Absolutely. “Culture is Treatment” is our motto. The Medicine Wheel concept of healing is an integral part of the treatment process. Elders come in to speak with the clients on a regular basis; clients do morning smudges and have sweats twice per week(Sweats and Pipe Ceremonies are postponed due to Covid-19 Protocols). By providing clients with a basic exposure to First Nations’ culture, they can then go back to their own communities with this awareness and find out more about the cultures and traditions that are specific to their own heritage. Round Lake takes aspects of many different cultures and includes them in the treatment experience. Out of respect for all belief systems, the spirituality components of the program will not interfere with, but enhance, each client’s spiritual beliefs. More information on the cultural activities at Round Lake Treatment Centre can be found on our Program page.

We are 22 kilometres from Vernon and 20 kilometres from Armstrong and the nearest services. Clients are encouraged to bring with them all the personal supplies they will need for their entire stay. Clients are taken to a mall in Vernon for a couple of hours each weekend.   Remember to bring your ID, bank card (to help cash cheques) and a phone card (to make long-distance calls). If you don’t have a Calling Card, you can purchase long-distance phone cards at most convenience stores (ie. 7-11) before you come for treatment.

We do have openings come up from time-to-time. Please check our Employment page regularly for any current openings. In fact, we warmly welcome former clients to apply after a 2 years of sobriety.

At Round Lake, it can snow between November and March with accumulations usually of about one foot at any one time. Normally the winter climate is very amiable. Cold but manageable. During these months, please ensure you have a pair of warm boots and winter jacket.