Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Friendship Centre (TLAFC) has been established in the City of Nanaimo for over 50 years. What started as location that served coffee for Indigenous peoples who found themselves needing support or connection while in the city, now offers multiple child, family, and community services at multiple locations in Nanaimo. One of those programs was the Neutral Zone Youth Drop in Centre. 

Nestled in the downtown core, the location of the Neutral Zone program was on local bus routes, convenient to lowincome housing, child welfare, income assistance, and other social service locations. The program was intended for Indigenous youth to participate in a safe place, however the service was open to their friends and families from all different races and walks of life. At its peak, the Neutral Zone saw up to 200 participants per night.