Resources

City of Port Coquitlam

City Services
Emergency after hours number 604-543-6700.

Emergency Preparedness

An emergency can arise quickly and without warning. Residents should be prepared to be on their own for at least 5 days in an emergency, be it a power outage, severe storm, flood, earthquake or other emergency. Port Coquitlam’s Emergency Preparedness Program prepares civic employees, residents and businesses for the effects of a disaster or major emergency.
The City has trained employees in emergency operations and personal family preparedness, and has obtained a variety of resources to assist the community in the event of an emergency.
Volunteers are at the heart of the program, assisting with key services such as free community courses, Emergency Social Services and amateur radio communications.

Recreation Programs Check out our Leisure Guide four times a year to learn about leisure activities for all ages, interests and skill levels. Live in PoCo? Sign up Early for Swimming Lessons. Port Coquitlam residents will get a three-day head start on their fall aquatics registrations, thanks to a new city pilot program.

Wilson Seniors Wilson Seniors is an activity centre for adults with membership opportunities for those 60 years or better.
As of Aug. 28, 2019, you can find us in our new home in the Port Coquitlam Community Centre. Amenities include:
Wilson Lounge and kitchen– table seating, a cafeteria serving lunch, snacks and coffee. Reserved daytime weekdays for seniors’ use. Lunch is served from 11:30a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Games Room– lounge furniture and tables, snooker tables, board games and flexible activity space. Reserved daytime weekdays for seniors’ use.
What’s Up Wilson? Adult 50+ Programs

Drop-in Programs – 55-60 year olds are welcome to try the drop-in programs at a drop-in rate of $3. (55-60 year olds are not eligible for membership.)
Silver Chord Choir – the Silver Chord Choir is made up of seniors from 50 to 95+ who love to sing. It’s a non-auditioned choir that has been going for over 53 years. Open to Wilson Seniors’ members; small additional fee for music.

Better Meals We are a healthy foods service provider that prepare and deliver delicious meals to your door. The dietary needs of seniors are our speciality area due to the extensive experience we have in preparing food for the elderly and the expert input we receive from qualified dieticians.

Government of Canada
Programs and Services for Seniors

Service Canada is a federal institution that is part of Employment and Social Development Canada. Service Canada provides Canadians with a single point of access to a wide range of government services and benefits including the Compassionate Care Benefit which is a benefit that pays claimants who must provide care or support to a gravely ill family member. We are committed to improving services for Canadians by working with partners to provide access to the full range of government services and benefits that Canadians want and need through the Internet, by telephone, in person or by mail.

Canada Revenue Agency
For information on Income Tax, RRSP’s, TFSA’s, and other tax-related items

CAFC website
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) is the central agency in Canada that collects information and criminal intelligence on such matters as mass marketing fraud (e.g., telemarketing), advance fee fraud (e.g., West African letters), Internet fraud and identification theft complaints.

Provincial Government

Fair Pharmacare
Fa
ir PharmaCare helps B.C. families pay for eligible prescription drugs, dispensing fees and some medical supplies.  To register for Fair PharmaCare, families must have Medical Services Plan (MSP) coverage. Fair PharmaCare is income-based; the less a family earns, the more help they get.

Other Organizations

Alzheimer Society CanadaThe Alzheimer Society of Canada provides lots of resources for people with dementia, family members, caregivers, and health-care professionals.

BC Housing Home Adaptations for Independence (HAFI) provides financial assistance in the form of a grant to eligible low-income households to complete home adaptations which will allow them to continue living independently in their home.

Better at Home Supporting the non-medical needs of older adults in BC

CARP We work to uphold the rights and improve the lives of Canadians as we age.

Council of Senior Citizens’ Organization of BC (COSCO)is an umbrella organization of many groups advocating for health, housing, transportation, and income security issues for seniors in BC. The fundamental concept is to build workshops which are offered free of charge to groups of seniors and occasionally to younger people.

Dying with Dignity Canada The national not-for-profit organization committed to improving quality of dying, protecting end-of-life rights, and helping Canadians avoid unwanted suffering.

Fall Prevention
Falls are the No. 1 reason for injury-related hospitalizations for older adults and in Canada, more than 1.6 million seniors fall each year. Almost half experience serious injuries, such as fractures and sprains; falls cause 95 per cent of hip fractures in those over 65. Close to 20 per cent of seniors die within one year of a fall. Our bodies naturally change with age, and these changes affect the way we feel, move, and behave. A fall can have a devastating and lasting impact on a person, resulting in injury, chronic pain and a reduced quality of life. Even without an injury, a fall can cause an older adult to lose confidence and reduce their activities. The good news is that there are actions you can take to prevent falls.

POCO Meals on Wheels is a service providing home delivery of nutritional meals throughout the Tri-City area using a network of volunteer drivers to the residents of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody who are unable to shop, prepare or cook meals for themselves.

Seniors’ First BC Since its beginning Seniors First BC has worked hard to raise awareness about elder abuse and to educate the public about the rights of seniors.  We currently fulfill this role through public education and workshops delivered by staff, and through our popular senior-driven peer-to-peer workshops.