Need Help

Challenges arise everyday for everyone and many people need assistance to cope with these challenges. In the Cowichan Region, your contributions help support 18 Participating Agencies:

Abbeyfield Pennels House Society
builds non-profit housing for seniors. An Abbeyfield House is a response to one of the most pressing problems facing our time: the increasing number of elderly Canadians who are unable to live alone, yet do not want or need the services of a home for the aged or a nursing home. 250-746-7259.

B.C. Paraplegic Association
offers counselling, information, equipment and other resources to assist people with spinal cord injuries and physical disabilities towards independence in the community; offers spinal cord injury prevention education. 250-741-9889.

Big Brothers and Big Sisters
matches volunteers with children of single parent families for mentoring and friendship. Offers an in-school mentoring program for elementary children. 250-748-BIGS.

Central Vancouver Island Crisis Society
The Cowichan Crisis Line is available 24 hour hours a day, it serves residents from North of the Malahat, Shawnigan Lake, Mill Bay, Cowichan Bay, Duncan, Maple Bay, Crofton, North Cowichan and Chemainus including Lake Cowichan and area. They provide short term emotional support, information & referrals, suicide assessment and intervention. Also provided is customized training programs in communication, healthy relationships, crisis intervention, suicide prevention and intervention 250-748-1133

Clements Centre Society (Formerly known as the Cowichan Valley Association for Community Living)
Supports people with developmental disabilities; provides day programs for children and adults, and residential homes for adults. Child Development provides early intervention (infant development, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy) for children at risk of or experiencing developmental delay, and child care resource and referral assists families seeking child care. 250-746-4135.

CNIB
is a nationwide, community-based, registered charity committed to public education, research, and the vision health of all Canadians. CNIB provides the services and support necessary to enjoy a good quality of life while living with vision loss. 250-519-1117.

Canadian Red Cross
services including: Abuse Prevention Education; Medical Equipment Loans; Medical Equipment Recycling Programs; Disaster Training and Response; International Relief; Global Education Awareness; Injury Prevention; First Aid and Water Safety Program. 1-800-661-9055.

Community Options Society
provides counselling services for children, youth and their families, such as Individual/Family counselling, Young Families Program, mediation services, parenting courses, support groups, anger management, food programs and educational workshops. 250-748-0232.

Cowichan Family Life Association
offers support programs for families and individuals; volunteer counselor training; and domestic abuse prevention and support. 250-748-8281.

Cowichan Lake Community Services
is a multi-purpose agency providing a variety of services including meals on wheels, a community mini bus, transition house, summer programs, office services, recreation and teen theatre. 250-749-6822.

Cowichan Valley Basket Society
provides food for the hungry: soup, sandwiches and hampers, as well as a safe, dry and warm environment for people to congregate. Open 6 days a week from 10 am to 4 pm. 250-746-1566.

Cowichan Valley Hospice Society
offers a circle of support for the terminally ill that allows them to live fully until the very end of life, with dignity and in comfort. 250-701-4242.

Cowichan Valley Independent Living Resource Centre Society
empowers individuals to take control and make informed choices in their lives, increasing their sense of independence and citizenship in the community. It provides a central location from which information is organised and disseminated to members of the community. The Centre also provides a variety of services that enable individuals to gain independent living skills and access pre-employment training. 250-746-3930.

Cowichan Women Against Violence Society
provides emotional support, counselling, emergency shelter, personal development and advocacy for primarily women and children who have been affected by violence and/or abuse. We strive to be an educational force for progressive changes in attitudes, laws, and institutional procedures dealing with violence against victims and children. 250-748-7000.

Hiiye'yu Lelum HOUSE OF FRIENDSHIP Society
provides health, social, recreational and cultural services to promote individual, family and community self-reliance. These services address the needs and aspirations of Aboriginal people and focus on well-being within a cross-cultural context. The Homelessness Program provides outreach support and referral services to individuals in transition. They also provide breakfast, showers and laundry facilities. The program strives to prevent homelessness and supports those who are absolutely homeless. 250-748-2242.

MS Society of Canada
provides professional, practical and supportive services and programs for people with Multiple Sclerosis and their families including hospital visits, transportaion aid, exercises, clinical services and help with day-to-day activities. 250-748-7010.

Seniors Resource & Support Society - Cowichan
assists seniors by providing information, services and programs enabling them to choose a healthier lifestyle and to maintain their independence. 250-748-2133.

Volunteer Cowichan
promotes volunteerism; advocates issues related to volunteerism; coordinates volunteer recognition activities for the community; offers a Youth Centre, a Friendly Visitor program for socially isolated seniors; an income tax program for people on low incomes, and a handyDART transportation service for people with disabilities and for seniors. 250-748-2133.