Individual and group counselling for people affected by substance use or mental health issues. Open to the whole Port Alberni community; self-referrals accepted.
Offers individual and group counselling for individuals, couples, and families, crisis intervention, and preparation for residential treatment.
Service Areas: Alberni, Arrowview Heights, Cameron Heights, Port Alberni, Sahara Heights
Location: 3555 4th Avenue, Port Alberni, British Columbia
Indoor arena with two ice sheets, public skating and hockey activities.
City recreation facility at 3737 Roger Street, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 8E3; phone 250-720-2518. The facility has two NHL-sized ice sheets, lounges, dressing rooms and concessions. Reception hours are Monday–Friday 10 am–2 pm; facility hours are listed as 7 am–11 pm. Check current public ice-session schedules, rates and rental availability before visiting.
Service Areas: Alberni, Arrowview Heights, Cameron Heights, Port Alberni, Sahara Heights
Location: 3737 Roger Street, Port Alberni, British Columbia
Non-medical support to help adults aged 65 and over remain independent at home in Sproat Lake and the Alberni Valley.
For seniors aged 65 and over who are in general good health but need help with non-medical daily tasks. Supports include light housekeeping, grocery shopping, friendly visits, snow shovelling, home repair, yard work, and transportation to medical and other critical appointments. Services also serve Port Alberni and Tseshaht First Nation reserve. Fees use a sliding scale based on income. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM–2:00 PM; program hours vary. Contact the provider to confirm service availability and fees.
Service Areas: Alberni, Arrowview Heights, Cameron Heights, Port Alberni, Sahara Heights, Sproat Lake, Tseshaht Reserve
Provider: Alberni Valley Ministries (The Salvation Army)
Daily meals, overnight shelter, basic supplies, weekly clinics and case management.
The Salvation Army Bread of Life Centre provides breakfast 9:00–10:30 am, lunch noon–1:30 pm and dinner 5:00–6:30 pm every day; everyone is welcome. On request, personal hygiene and incontinence supplies may be available. The centre lists a 25-bed overnight shelter operating nightly 9 pm–7:30 am, Tuesday crafts, Wednesday government-support/CMHA and Island Health clinics, Thursday movie night, Pathways of Hope case-management intake and weekday housing/financial application help 8 am–noon. Located at 3130 3rd Avenue, Port Alberni, BC; the page lists 250-723-4049 for the centre and the general agency contact 250-723-6913, albernivalley.info@salvationarmy.ca. Confirm shelter intake and capacity directly.
Service Areas: Alberni, Arrowview Heights, Cameron Heights, Port Alberni, Sahara Heights
Location: 3130 3rd Avenue, Port Alberni, British Columbia
Provider: Canadian Mental Health Association - Port Alberni Branch
Community rehabilitation, peer support, advocacy, prepared meals, housing and homelessness outreach.
The Port Alberni CMHA branch lists a New Horizons Clubhouse with rehabilitation, daily lunch, supported and transitional employment, social and recreation activities; peer-support training; advocacy with income, pension, disability-benefit and tenancy matters; Food Matters prepared meals and vocational training; housing; and outreach for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Program eligibility, intake and availability differ; contact the branch before attending. Office: 3178 2nd Avenue, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 4C3; Monday–Friday 9 am–4 pm; phone 250-724-7199.
Service Areas: Alberni, Arrowview Heights, Cameron Heights, Port Alberni, Sahara Heights
Location: 3178 2nd Avenue, Port Alberni, British Columbia
Provider: Alberni Valley Ministries (The Salvation Army)
Community support, school food programs, senior assistance, and assessed emergency clothing or household vouchers.
Provides a safe place of refuge and care for people facing precarious circumstances. In partnership with local elementary schools, supports the Read and Feed breakfast program during the school year. Summer breakfast and After the Bell programs provide twice-weekly fresh fruit and bagged lunch items for registered school-aged children. Milk for Kids provides one litre of milk per week per registered child. Seniors receive support to address their needs. People needing emergency clothing or household items can make an appointment with the Community and Family Services Coordinator for an assessment for possible thrift-store vouchers. Community coffee is listed for Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to noon.
Service Areas: Alberni, Arrowview Heights, Cameron Heights, Port Alberni, Sahara Heights
Location: 4835 Argyle Street, Port Alberni, British Columbia
Provider: Alberni Valley Ministries (The Salvation Army)
Food hampers for Port Alberni households, by appointment.
Book a food bank appointment by phone. Bring identification and proof of address for each household member. After intake registration, a hamper is provided on a five-week rotation. Supplementary bread and produce may be available in the lobby Monday to Friday on a first-come, first-served basis. Appointments are Tuesday to Thursday, 11 am to 3 pm.
Service Areas: Alberni, Arrowview Heights, Cameron Heights, Port Alberni, Sahara Heights
Location: 4835 Argyle Street, Port Alberni, British Columbia
Indoor pools, fitness studio, hot tub, sauna and public drop-in swimming.
Located at 4255 Wallace Street, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 3Y6; phone 250-720-2514. The facility has a main pool, tot pool, fitness studio, hot tub, sauna and four universal change rooms equipped for a portable lift. Published facility hours vary by weekday, include split sessions and may change without notice; check the current public swim and fitness schedule before visiting. Swimmers under seven must be directly supervised in the water by a parent or adult guardian within arm’s reach. Admission rates and individual accessibility needs should be confirmed with the facility.
Service Areas: Alberni, Arrowview Heights, Cameron Heights, Port Alberni, Sahara Heights
Location: 4255 Wallace Street, Port Alberni, British Columbia
Free legal information, family law and poverty law advocacy, legal aid form help, and referrals. Call to book or ask about drop-in times.
Provides free legal information, seminars, legal aid form assistance, and referrals. Areas of focus include income assistance and benefits, housing, family law, and advocacy for people with disabilities. Available Monday to Friday; call for appointment and drop-in details.
Service Areas: Alberni, Arrowview Heights, Cameron Heights, Port Alberni, Sahara Heights
Location: 3555 4th Avenue, Port Alberni, British Columbia
Referred wound care clinic and community home health supports.
Island Health’s Port Alberni Community Health Services provides a wound-care clinic for existing Community Health Services clients; it is not a walk-in clinic, and referral is required. Clinic hours Monday–Friday 9 am–3 pm; calls answered 8 am–4 pm. Community services include home support, home care nursing, rehabilitation and case management; call the North Island Community Access line at 250-331-8570 or 1-866-928-4988 (8:30 am–6 pm). Clinic: 4269 6th Avenue, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 4N1; phone 250-731-1313. Wheelchair accessible; transit stops a few blocks away for people able to walk.
Service Areas: Alberni, Arrowview Heights, Cameron Heights, Port Alberni, Sahara Heights
Location: 4269 6th Avenue, Port Alberni, British Columbia
Culturally based family, early-years, youth, pregnancy and Elders programs.
The Friendship Center’s current program list includes Brighter Futures peer-led parenting, early childhood outreach, Early Years drop-ins for families with children ages 0–6, Elders social programming, Family Support, Healthycare Pregnancy support for people who have used or may use substances, and a Youth Drop-in Program. Family support can be self-referred or referred through MCFD or Usma. The centre welcomes all community members and has a mandate to serve Indigenous people living away from their home community. Contact the centre to confirm eligibility, intake, schedules and location for each program.
Service Areas: Alberni, Arrowview Heights, Cameron Heights, Sahara Heights
24-hour emergency shelter with 35 beds for adults of any gender, meals, showers, and laundry. Intake 4–5 pm daily.
The shelter can reserve a bed for the following night. People from out of town may be accommodated when space is available. Two beds are for people stabilizing from substance use. Pets are considered case by case. Wheelchair accessible. Funded by BC Housing.
Service Areas: Alberni, Arrowview Heights, Cameron Heights, Port Alberni, Sahara Heights
Location: Main Floor, 3939 8th Avenue, Port Alberni, British Columbia
Safe supportive housing for up to 30 adults age 19 and over who are homeless and may have mental health or substance use issues.
Includes 24-hour staffing, onsite mental health and addictions counsellors, and life skills training. Length of stay is determined case by case. Pets require management approval. Wheelchair accessible.
Service Areas: Alberni, Arrowview Heights, Cameron Heights, Port Alberni, Sahara Heights
Location: 2nd Floor, 3939 8th Avenue, Port Alberni, British Columbia
Public library with lending collections, computers, Wi-Fi, meeting rooms and accessible services.
Vancouver Island Regional Library branch at 4255 Wallace Street, Unit B, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 3Y6. Phone 250-723-9511; portalberni@virl.bc.ca. Branch features include wheelchair accessibility, eight public computers, free Wi-Fi, climate-controlled public cooling/warming space, 24-hour book return, meeting spaces, and a collection of more than 35,000 items. Current posted hours: Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10 am–6 pm; Wednesday and Thursday 10 am–7 pm. ACRD lists VIRL service for all electoral areas, including Beaver Creek; VIRL says free cards are available to residents in its service area. Residents can register online or at a branch and verify their address. Check the branch page for current hours and programs.
Service Areas: Alberni, Arrowview Heights, Bamfield, Beaver Creek, Cameron Heights, Cherry Creek, Port Alberni, Sahara Heights, Sproat Lake
Location: 4255 Wallace Street, Port Alberni, British Columbia
City parks, sports fields and recreation facilities, with swimming, fitness, indoor sports and public programs.
The City’s Parks, Recreation & Culture directory lists public parks, sports fields and facilities. Current facility examples include the Echo Aquatic Centre & Fitness Studio (pool, tot pool, hot tub, sauna, fitness studio and four universal change rooms with portable-lift equipment), Alberni Valley Multiplex (two ice sheets, lounges and public ice sessions), and Glenwood Centre (indoor pickleball, tennis, ball hockey, floor curling and indoor lacrosse). Programs, drop-in times, rentals and admission costs vary by facility and change; use the linked live schedules and facility directory. Contact Echo Centre at 250-723-2181; 4255 Wallace Street, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 3Y6.
Service Areas: Alberni, Arrowview Heights, Cameron Heights, Port Alberni, Sahara Heights
Location: 4255 Wallace Street, Port Alberni, British Columbia
Port Alberni local bus service with a scheduled stop at West Coast Hospital in Sahara Heights.
Route 1 Southside operates through Port Alberni. Check BC Transit’s current schedule and alerts for service days, departure times, fares, and accessibility information.
Service Areas: Alberni, Cameron Heights, Sahara Heights
Supportive housing for up to 18 adults age 19 and over who are homeless and may have mental health or substance use issues.
Includes 24-hour staffing, three meals per day, showers, laundry, and onsite mental health and addictions counsellors. Length of stay is determined case by case. Pets are allowed. This location is not wheelchair accessible.
Service Areas: Alberni, Arrowview Heights, Cameron Heights, Port Alberni, Sahara Heights
Location: 3675 4th Avenue, Port Alberni, British Columbia
24-hour emergency department and hospital care for Port Alberni and the West Coast.
Island Health’s West Coast General Hospital has a 24-hour emergency department; patients are triaged by urgency. Services also include inpatient hospital care, medical imaging, medical laboratory and outpatient adult rehabilitation (doctor referral required). The hospital states that emergency services remain open 24/7; call 9-1-1 for life-threatening emergencies. Address: 3949 Port Alberni Highway, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 4S1. Main phone 250-731-1370. Free patient and visitor Wi-Fi. Hospital is open 24 hours; visiting hours listed as 1–8 pm daily.
Service Areas: Alberni, Arrowview Heights, Bamfield, Beaver Creek, Cameron Heights, Cherry Creek, Port Alberni, Sahara Heights, Sproat Lake
Location: 3949 Port Alberni Highway, Port Alberni, British Columbia