Loading, about as long as a coffee at the Lion’s Head.
Loading, about as long as a coffee at the Lion’s Head.
For those who served, former RCMP members, and their families, the full picture of support available in Castlegar and across Canada.
Castlegar honours those who served
Whether you served in the Canadian Armed Forces, the RCMP, or as an allied veteran, and whether you're looking for benefits, mental-health support, help for a family member, or a community of people who understand, this page is the single starting point.
The local Royal Canadian Legion is the quickest way in. Veterans Affairs Canada handles benefits. Free, confidential, 24/7 mental-health support is one phone call away. Here's how it all connects.
First calls
There's no one veteran experience. Find the starting point that matches where you are today.
Open a My VAC Account online and run the Benefits Navigator questionnaire. It tells you which programs you may qualify for, disability, health care, education, employment, re-establishment. No guesswork.
Open My VAC AccountThe VAC Assistance Service is available to spouses, partners, children, and caregivers, not just veterans themselves. Call 1-800-268-7708 any time. Survivor's pension and children's benefits are also available through Service Canada.
Call VAC AssistanceCall VAC Assistance 24/7 at 1-800-268-7708 for free short-term psychological support (up to 20 hours per issue). For longer-term care, ask to be referred to the BC OSI (Operational Stress Injury) Clinic network.
Mental health supportContact the Last Post Fund at 1-800-465-7113 to apply for the Funeral and Burial Program (VAC-funded, income- or service-tested). Apply within one year. Park Memorial Cemetery offers a dedicated veteran ossuary.
Last Post FundYour local Legion branch is the shortest path to community, advocacy, and Remembrance. Branch 170 serves Castlegar, Robson, and the surrounding area.
The Legion is a national service organization with the local branch as the primary community access point. What that typically means in practice:
Tip
You don't need to have served to join
Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) administers the federal programs that support veterans and their families. Many veterans qualify for programs they never claim because the path feels hidden, the Benefits Navigator is the tool VAC built to surface what applies to you.
Open a My VAC Account and run the Benefits Navigator questionnaire. It starts as a 10-minute questionnaire, no applications submitted yet, just clarity on what you may be eligible for. You can stop at any point.
Program areas include:
Contact: 1-866-522-2122 (English), 1-866-522-2022 (French), or use the secure messaging inside My VAC Account.
Operational Stress Injuries (OSI) include PTSD, anxiety, depression, and substance-use conditions related to service. Support is free, confidential, and available whether you're a current VAC client or not.
The Operational Stress Injury Clinic network provides specialized assessment and treatment for veterans, Canadian Armed Forces members (Regular and Reserve), and RCMP members with service-related mental health conditions, and their families. In BC, the network is managed by Vancouver Coastal Health.
Referral: through VAC, the Canadian Armed Forces, or the RCMP. Your Veteran Service Officer at the Legion or the VAC National Contact Centre can help initiate a referral.
Heads up
In immediate crisis
The Last Post Fund is a non-profit that has administered funeral and burial assistance for Canadian veterans since 1909. The program is funded by VAC and ensures dignified services for eligible veterans.
Eligibility combines two tests:
Apply within one year of the veteran's death. Call the Last Post Fund at 1-800-465-7113 or apply through the online form on lastpostfund.ca. Your funeral director can often initiate the application on your behalf.
Park Memorial Cemetery at 2311 14th Avenue maintains a dedicated veteran ossuary for cremated remains, at a reduced rate ($150 resident, $225 non-resident). It's a respectful, low-cost option operated by the City. See the Cemetery & Bereavement Support page for full details and the broader fee schedule.
The Castlegar community gathers each year on November 11 to honour those who served. Legion Branch 170 coordinates local Remembrance ceremonies and the Poppy Campaign from late October through November 11.
VAC programs extend to families as well as veterans themselves.
My VAC Account
Apply for benefits, check status, use Benefits Navigator.
VAC Assistance Service (24/7)
Free mental-health support. For veterans, RCMP, and families.
Last Post Fund
Funeral and burial assistance for eligible veterans.
Legion BC/Yukon, Branch 170
Local Legion branch at 248 Columbia Avenue.
Cemetery & Bereavement Support
Park Memorial veteran ossuary and full end-of-life resources.
Veterans Affairs Canada, all services
Complete program directory.
Still need help?
Faster than calling for non-urgent issues. We respond within one business day.
Veteran information verified against Veterans Affairs Canada, the Royal Canadian Legion BC/Yukon Command, the Last Post Fund, and Service Canada. Phone numbers and programs may change; confirm with each organization before relying on specific details.