Resources

Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD)
250-423-5311

Columbia Basin Family Resource Society Voluntary Family Support & Youth Care Program
250-423-4687 | cbfrs.com
Free service that provides parenting support, parent-teen mediation, and one-on-one youth support.

Child & Youth Mental Health Outreach Program
250-423-0817 | cymhoutreach@gmail.com
A program that provides services to children and youth with milk to moderate mental, emotional, and behavioral difficulties, as well as their caregivers.  Servicing the Elk Valley.

Fernie Heritage Library
250-423-4458
Free story time, reading buddies, book clubs, and multiple programs for school aged kids.

Parent Connections
fernieparentconnections@outlook.com
Fernie based free drop-in program offering discussion on parenting topics, and open space to talk about the good and tough parts of parenting.

Bellies to Babies
250-430-1045 or 250-430-1048
Free weekly drop-in program about parenting, food, and baby care for expecting parents and their infants up to one year old.

Parent/Tot Funtimes
parenttotfuntimes@gmail.com
Drop-in program for parents and children under 6. Running once a week in Fernie, Sparwood and Elkford.
 
StrongStart
250-946-7257 | elkvalleycoordinator@cbal.org
A free early learning program for children birth to 5 years of age, with their parent or caregiver.

Juice Box Social
ferniefamilyconnections@gmail.com
Fernie & Sparwood based music-play and connection drop-in program for families and caregivers with babies up to 2 years

Story time with CBAL
250-946-7257
Free, interactive, weekly drop-in story time at the Fernie library for caregivers and children birth to 5 years.

Kids Café
250-423-4112
Weekly Fernie based drop-in for parents and kids aged 0-5, with bouncy castles, toys, snacks, and coffee. Opportunities for kids to play and parents to connect.

Fernie Early Years
fernieearlyyears@gmail.com
A Facebook page offering information for families to learn about events and activities for children in Fernie.

Sparwood Early Years
www.facebook.com/sparwoodearlyyears
A Facebook page providing information about programs in Sparwood and facilitating connections for families of children from birth to 6 years old.

East Kootenay Child Care Resource and Referral
250-426-5677

Infant Development Program Consultant for the Elk Valley (Birth to 3 years)
778-687-1995
idp.cbk2@ccssebc.com

Speech & Language Pathologist (Birth to Kindergarten Entry)
250-430-7026

Representative for Children and Youth
1-800-476-3933 | rcy@rcybc.ca
Supports children, youth, and families who need help dealing with child welfare systems.

Ombudsman (Adult and Youth Advocates)
1-800-567-3247
Receives inquiries and complaints about the practices and services provided by public agencies.

MCFD Complaints Consultants
1-877-387-7027
Receives inquiries and complaints about the process and conduct of the Ministry of Child and Family Development.

BC Centre for Elder Advocacy and Support
1-866-437-1940
Provides information and support to older adults who have been abused including: Victim Services, Outreach and Legal Programs.

Service Canada
1-800-622-6232

City of Fernie
250-423-6817

District of Sparwood
250-425-6271

District of Elkford
250-865-4000

Member of Parliament: Rob Morrison
Ottawa: 613-995-7246 or Cranbrook: 250-417-2250

Member of Legislative Assembly: Pete Davis
Victoria: 250-387-3507 or Cranbrook: 250-417-6022

Citizenship & Immigration
1-888-242-2100

Canada Revenue Agency
1-800-267-6999 or 1-800-959-8281

Kootenay Employment Services (Work BC)
250-423-4204 | fernie.admin@kes.bc.ca
Free employment search services for those legally able to work in Canada.

Employment Standards Branch
1-833-236-3700 | Text: 604-660-2421
Ask a question or get support for a work issue.

Employment Insurance
1-800-206-7218

Canada Pension Plan
1-800-227-9914

Old Age Security
1-800-277-9914

Ministry of Social Development (Income Assistance)
1-866-866-0800

BC Housing
1-800-257-7756

Community Food Banks
Fernie: 250-423-4661
Sparwood: 250–425-3746
Elkford: 250-910-7088

Elk Valley Community Mental Health
250-425-2064 or 1-800-661-0329
Free counselling for adults with mental health issues. Self- referral is appropriate.

East Kootenay Addiction Services Society
250-423-4423 or 1-800-644-6144
Free counselling for adults dealing with their own or someone else’s substance misuse or addiction.  Self-referral is appropriate.

Stopping the Violence Counselling Program
250-423-4687
Free counselling for women who have experienced any type of abuse at any point in their lives. Self-referral is appropriate.

CBFRS Family Counselling
250-430-1004
Free counselling for individuals, couples or families as a whole who: are having family system issues, parent-child relational issues, blended family issues, communication problems or conflict resolution issues. For families that have children under 19 years old.

Private Counselling Information
Some employers offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). You may be able to access private counselling in this way; check with your employer for details.

East Kootenay Canadian Mental Health Association Crisis Line
1-888-353-CARE (2273)
Free crisis support line.  Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

B.C. Distress Phone Services
1-800-SUICIDE  (1-800-784-2433) or 9-8-8
Free crisis support line.  Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Fellaship
fellashipmensgroup@gmail.com
Food and a safe place to be heard for any man.

Sexual Assault Services Coordination & Counselling
250-423-4687
www.ferniewomenscentre.com
Free counselling and outreach services for anyone who has experienced any type of sexual assault, sexual exploitation at any point in their lives. Self referral is appropriate.

Public Health Units
Fernie: 250-423-8288
Sparwood: 250-425-2064
Elkford: 250-865-2247 ext 3

Dietary Services
Fernie: 250-423-4453 | Sparwood: 250-425-6212
Free nutrition consultation

Options For Sexual Health (The Fernie Options Clinic)
To book an appointment go to: www.optionsforsexualhealth.org/clinic/fernie-opt-clinic/ 
Sexual health services for all ages, all genders, all orientations, offering free birth control for people in BC with MSP, STI testing and care, cervical screening, pregnancy testing and options counselling. For clients with no MSP/other provincial health care plans, charges may apply

Health Connect Registries
hcr.healthlinkbc.ca/s/
Online self-registry where you can add yourself to a waitlist for a family doctor. PHN is required.

ANKORS Trans Connect
250-505-5506 | ankorstransconnecteast@gmail.com
Health and community program supporting transgender people in the East & West Kootenays.

BC Legal Aid
1-866-577-2525
Get information and apply for legal aid over the phone, or find out more information about other services in the community.

East Kootenay Poverty Law Associate Program
1-877-298-2211 or 250-426-4293
Provides free information, referrals, and advocacy around residential tenancy concerns, welfare and disability benefits.

Legal Services Society’s Family Law Telephone Advice Line
1-866-577-2525
Apply for legal aid over the phone or family law lawyers give brief, “next-step” legal advice over the telephone. 

Dial-A-Law
1-800-565-5297
Lawyer Referral Service and Legal Information

Residential Tenancy Branch
1-800-665-8779
Provides landlords and tenants with information and dispute resolution services. 

Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal
1-866-557-0035
www.eaat.ca
Explains the appeal tribunal process and provides contact information and copies of the necessary forms.

Tenants Resource and Advocacy Centre (TRAC)
tenants.bc.ca
Eligibility information— Contact: 604-255-3099 ext 230
Legal Questions— Contact: 1-800-665-1185
Provides information about residential tenancy law to tenants across British Columbia.

Family Justice Counsellor
1-888-518-8822 or 250-426-1660
Free mediation services for separating parents. Located in Cranbrook, offers virtual services.

East Kootenay Family Law Advocate Program
250-464-0474 | fladvocatecranbrook@ccssebc.com
Information & Advice relating to Family Law Programs
Assistance with Legal Aid applications, reconsiderations & appeals. Information, advice & assistance with Child Support & Spousal Support. Connections to information resources & services to help with a variety of legal issues related to Family Law.

Elk Valley Transition Unit
250-946-6004
Provides emergency accommodation for women and children experiencing domestic violence. Safehomes offers support, referral, and shelter. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Also an after hours support for people experiencing sexual assault.

Elk Valley RCMP Victim Services
250-423-7500
Provides information about the justice system, practical help, and emotional support to victims of crime.

Victim Link
1-800-563-0808
24 hour, 7 days a week, immediate crisis support for victims of family and sexual violence, help for other victims of crime and basic legal information and awareness of your rights. Call or text.

Indigenous Disability Canada/British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society
250-381-7303 or 1-888-815-5511
Provides disability related support and services to Indigenous, Metis and Inuit peoples in Canada with disabilities.

First Nations Health Authority
1-866-913-0033
Offers a Health Benefits Program that provides status First Nations people living in BC with a comprehensive health benefits plan.

Indigenous Justice Centre
Cranbrook: 250-420-0202
Free legal and outreach services for Indigenous people that are facing a criminal or child protection issues.

KUU-US Crisis Line Society
1-800-588-8717 or 250-723-4050
BC First Nations and Indigenous specific crisis line available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Indian Residential School Crisis Line
1-866-925-4419
A 24-hour national support line for anyone affected by their experience at residential schools.

Ktunaxa-Kinbasket Child and Family Services Society (KKCFSS)
250-489-4563 or 1-800-663-9122
Services for aboriginal families in need of support.

Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi ‘it (Tobacco Plains Indian Band)
250-887-3461
Provides support to the members of Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi ‘it First Nation and guidance towards health and wellness, employment and training, and cultural heritage.

Elk Valley Metis Association
elkvalleymetis.com
Provides support and information to Metis peoples in the Elk Valley.

Paq’mi Nuq’yuk
250-489-4563
Aboriginal Early Years Program provides a positive start to a new life and encourages strong and healthy families with connection to culture and language through one-on-one and group services to aboriginal children under 6 and their families.

Fernie Women’s Centre
250-423-4687 or 1-800-339-7393
Free emotional and instrumental support, referrals, advocacy, and community education. Offers services in Sparwood, Elkford and Fernie.

Elk Valley and Area Hospice
250-423-4453 ext. 38109
elkvalleyhospice@gmail.com
Provides free, confidential, non-judgemental support to those facing life threatening illness and their families.

Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL)
250-946-7257
Provides free Family, Seniors, Basic Computer Skills, English as a Second Language, Adult and Youth literacy programming. Call or text.

Fernie Pride Society
ferniepride.ca
info@ferniepride.ca
Supports and connects the LGBTQ community in the Elk Valley. More information available on Facebook or their website.

Seniors Drop-in Centre
(250) 423-3312

ANKORS
250-505-5506  | information@ankors.bc.ca
Provides HIV+ and Hep C support, harm reduction services, LGBTQ2IA+ resources, & community education to fight stigma in the Kootenays .

Elk Valley Suicide Task Force
elkvalleystf@gmail.com
Promotes awareness, prevention and support for those impacted by suicide in the Elk Valley. Not a crisis service, please call the crisis line for 24/7 support.

East Kootenay Crisis Line:
1-888-353-2273
24/7 Non-judgemental emotional support, resources & information to help get you through the day. All calls welcome!

Elk Valley Family Society
250-423-4213
Provides housing program support for seniors, people with disabilities, second stage housing, and affordable housing in Fernie and Sparwood.

Angel Flight East Kootenay
250-430-1188
angelflightek.ca
A volunteer run charity providing free air transportation to residents of the East Kootenay to medical appointments in Kelowna. Flight days are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

QWORKS
250-741-8116 or 1-877-714-0471
qworks.ethoscmg.com
A free, hybrid model program providing employment skills  & training for member of B.C’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community. One-on-one coaching, referrals to personal supports, employment placements, and on-the-job training also available

Community Volunteer Income Tax Program
tlc4905@gmail.com | 250-423-4458
A community led free income tax program for people with limited income. Operates around tax time (March to April) out of the Fernie Library. Income limits: Family – $50, 000 + $3000/Child, Single—$40, 000. Contact to book an appointment.