Portage Ontario’s History

Portage Ontario is a non-profit organisation that established a substance abuse rehabilitation centre for adolescents in Elora, near Guelph in 1985, in cooperation with the Government of Ontario. Since its opening, the centre has treated more than 4,000 youth from every region of Ontario.

Portage Elora is funded by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services and by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care via the Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network (WWLHIN) which has a service agreement with Portage. To view a copy of this agreement, please click here. The Portage Elora program is also supported by the Portage Ontario Foundation, which raises funds from private donors and through fundraising and awareness-building activities such as the Fresh Start Fundraising Dinner and Auction.

In 2009, Portage Ontario implemented a partnership with Outward Bound Canada, enabling the Portage Elora centre to benefit from the full-time services of an Outward Bound employee. Through recreational and outdoor activities, as well as multi-day nature trips, the Outward Bound program helps reinforce the competencies acquired by residents during their rehabilitation therapy.

Learn more about what's going on at Portage Elora's substance abuse rehabilitation centre and about the fundraising and awareness-building activities that are taking place in Ontario to support Portage.