Addictions Foundation Manitoba has a Compass facility in Southport that's celebrating a milestone of operation.

Compass Youth Live-In Program Supervisor Les O'Neill says they've been helping youth recover from substance abuse for 20 years, and showcased their efforts Monday.

"Our program opened up in 1999. So, this was an opportunity for us to provide a short celebration of those 20 years," says O'Neill. "It was an opportunity for us to highlight the changes that have been happening the last 20 years -- where we were, where we are, and some ideas of where we need to be going."

He explains it's a voluntary program for youth 13 and older. O'Neill says some may be 18 or 19 years of age, and certain circumstances will see some come in who are 20.

"We are a co-ed facility, so we can have up to 14 youth in the program," continues O'Neill. "The way our building is situated, we have eight beds on one side and six on the other. However, we kind of, maybe, move what side the males are on, or the females."

O'Neill points to a wall in the facility with handprints all over it, indicating all the youth who have passed through the program, leaving their marks of success.