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Service Canada Centre - Kingsway
The Service Canada Centre on Kingsway provides in-person support for federal programs and benefits, including Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS), and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). Staff can help with applications, updates, and resolving issues related to income, as well as services like Social Insurance Numbers (SIN) and government identification. For seniors, this location is especially valuable for addressing problems with pension payments, applying for benefits, or getting direct help when online systems are confusing or inaccessible. It offers a straightforward way to speak with someone face-to-face and get clarity on important financial and administrative matters.
Service Canada Centre - West Broadway
Provides in-person access to a wide range of federal government programs and benefits, including pensions, income supports, and identification services. Staff can assist with applications, questions, and document processing for programs like Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS), Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), and Social Insurance Numbers (SIN). For seniors, this is one of the most important places to go for help with retirement income, benefits eligibility, and updating personal information. The office is fully accessible and offers support in multiple languages, along with assistive services for hearing and accessibility needs.
Service Canada Centre – Granville
Federal Service Canada office in downtown Vancouver on Granville Street. Staff help in person with the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS), the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), the Social Insurance Number (SIN), Employment Insurance, and passport applications. Call 1-800-622-6232, or 1-800-277-9914 for CPP, OAS and GIS questions, or visit Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4pm, busiest from noon to 4pm. The office is wheelchair accessible.
Help in these languages:- English
- Français French
411 Seniors Centre Society
Community drop-in centre for seniors 55 and older near the Punjabi Market area on Fraser Street. Staff and trained volunteers run Navigation and Peer Support (NPS), helping with income and benefits such as Old Age Security, the Guaranteed Income Supplement, bus passes, SAFER, and other forms, plus referrals for housing, health, and legal concerns. NPS hours are 10am-2pm Monday to Thursday. The centre itself is open Monday to Friday 9am-4pm. A free income tax clinic runs early March to the end of April for low-income seniors and people with disabilities (income under $35,000 individual or $45,000 couple), with income tax help also available year-round by appointment. Drop-ins are welcome but booking ahead is recommended. Multilingual services available. Membership $5 per year. Many services are free.
West End Seniors Network (WESN) – Kay's Place
Information and referral centre for adults 55 and older. Drop in Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm, for form help, peer support, and referrals, or call ahead to book housing navigation support, which is by appointment only. Also offers financial help through Jane's Fund.
Canada Revenue Agency
Federal agency responsible for tax administration and benefit programs. Many income supports are delivered through the tax system, including the GST/HST credit, Canada Carbon Rebate, and other federal benefit payments.
Passport Canada
Apply for, renew, or get help with a Canadian passport. Many adults, including seniors, can renew by mail if their last passport was an adult passport (issued at age 16 or older) within the last 15 years, avoiding an in-person visit. New applications and some renewals need an in-person appointment at a Service Canada Centre or Service Canada office that offers passport services. Call 1-800-567-6868 (Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm local time) or apply online at canada.ca. Standard government passport fees apply.
Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC)
Federal office supporting veterans, Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP members, and their families with benefits and services. Helps with disability compensation, health and mental health benefits, home care, long-term care, funeral costs, the War Veterans Allowance, and planning the move to civilian life. Staff help fill out forms, assess needs, and plan care. Call or visit to start. Open Monday to Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm, and services can also be reached at any Service Canada location.
Collingwood Neighbourhood House
Neighbourhood house near Joyce-Collingwood SkyTrain offering programs for seniors, families, and newcomers. Seniors services include Better at Home (subsidized housekeeping, grocery ordering, and a shuttle every second Friday), a free weekly walking club, social drop-ins, and help with government forms and benefits. Free food programs and settlement services for newcomers are also based here. Call 604-435-0323 or register online. Some programs require membership.
Services & Programs (6)
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A one-on-one appointment with a peer navigator who helps seniors fill out government forms such as OAS, GIS, CPP, SAFER, MSP and the BC Bus Pass, and points them to other local supports. Free for any senior. Call or email Helen Su to book a time.
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Fridge and pantry stocked with free food, and located on the west facing side of Collingwood Neighbourhood House, adjacent to the gym entrance. Open 24/7. Wheelchair accessible.
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Food security programs run by the Collingwood Neighbourhood House Food Justice team. A free Community Fridge and Pantry at the CNH entrance is open to anyone. The Harvest Box Market offers subsidized produce on a pay-what-you-can basis. The Free Food Program currently has a waitlist. Call 604-435-0323 for current details.
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A weekly drop-in at Collingwood Neighbourhood House for people who are homeless or precariously housed in Renfrew-Collingwood and beyond. Saturday mornings offer a free hot breakfast, showers and a clothing exchange while supplies last, plus help connecting to housing, health care and counselling. No referral or registration is needed; people just show up. The program has run since 2004 and serves 60 to 80 people most Saturdays.
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A free wellness conversation for adults 55 and older that connects them to the local supports they need, such as transportation, food, health care and social programs. Call Collingwood Neighbourhood House to set up an appointment.
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Volunteer drivers give one-on-one rides to adults 55 and older who live in the Renfrew-Collingwood area, for a suggested $5 donation per ride, plus occasional free group outings. Call or email Joe Chan to ask about a ride.
Vital Statistics Agency (VSA) – Burnaby (Vancouver)
Provincial office that records and issues certificates for births, deaths, marriages, adoptions, and divorces in BC, and provides change of name and gender marker changes on birth certificates. Order certificates online, by mail, or in person at the Burnaby office. Fees apply for most certificates. Residential school survivors, their families, and those affected by the Sixties Scoop can reclaim an Indigenous name at no cost, including with Indigenous language characters.
Trans ID Clinic
Run by QMUNITY for lower-income transgender people applying for a legal name change or to change the gender marker on their ID. Offers information, help filling out forms, fingerprinting accompaniment, and notarial support, but not legal advice. Walk-ins welcome if space allows, or book ahead online or by phone. Held 1st and 3rd Wednesdays and the 3rd Friday of each month, 4pm-6pm.
For Women
BC Utilities Commission
Independent provincial regulator for BC electricity, natural gas, and some other utilities, plus basic auto insurance rates set by ICBC. Handles complaints about utility billing, metering, power quality, and line maintenance once the utility itself has not resolved the issue. File a complaint by phone or through the online complaint form, there is no cost. For an urgent issue like a disconnection, call right away.
Violation Ticket Centre
Handles payment and disputes for provincial traffic and other violation tickets issued in BC, such as speeding or driving without insurance. People have 30 days from the date on the ticket to pay online, by mail, or in person, or to dispute it. After 30 days the ticket is treated as a guilty plea and the full fine becomes due. Forms, including a change-of-address form, are available on the website. Call 1-877-661-8026 or 604-660-4869 (Lower Mainland), Monday to Friday 9am-4pm.