Veterans Affairs Canada office reopens in Prince George

299 Victoria Street location will serve approximately 1,300 Veterans

PRINCE GEORGE, BC, May 25, 2017 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada understands the tremendous sacrifice Veterans made when they selflessly answered the call to serve our country. Now we are answering their call by enhancing financial benefits, restoring and expanding access to critical services, expanding our service locations and hiring more frontline staff.

Veterans, their families and local stakeholders today joined Government of Canada officials for the reopening of the Veterans Affairs Canada office in Prince George, British Columbia (BC).

The Prince George office is the last of nine Veterans Affairs Canada offices, closed in 2012, to be reopened across the country. By the end of May 2017, a new (tenth) office will open in Surrey, BC. The Department has also expanded outreach to Veterans in the territories and other northern communities.

The Prince George office is located at 299 Victoria Street, 4^th Floor, Suite 435, Prince George, BC. The office will employ approximately four staff who will serve close to 1,300 Veterans in the area. Staff at the office will answer questions about VAC services and benefits; arrange pension medical examinations; and assist Veterans with completing and submitting applications and receipts. Case-managed Veterans will also be able to meet with their case manager.

Quotes

"Reopening the Prince George Office is particularly significant because it is the last of the previously closed VAC offices to reopen. Our Government was committed to reopening all of these offices and today, we delivered on that promise. We felt it was important for Veterans and their families in these areas to be able to meet with VAC staff and access services and benefits close to home."

The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence

Quick Facts  

• Reopening the nine Veterans Affairs offices was a priority in the Minister of Veterans Affairs' mandate letter.
• Offices were reopened in Corner Brook, Nfld., on July 5, 2016; Brandon, Man., on October 21, 2016; Sydney, N.S., on October 31, 2016; Kelowna, B.C., on November 1, 2016; Saskatoon, Sask., and Charlottetown, P.E.I., on November 30, 2016; Thunder Bay, Ont., on January 18, 2017; and Windsor, Ont., on April 21, 2017. A new office in Surrey, B.C., will also open by the end of May 2017.
• Veterans Affairs Canada is hiring new employees to help ensure that Veterans, Canadian Armed Forces members, RCMP personnel, and their families are provided with the best possible services in their own communities. This includes new staff to ensure case managers have a caseload average of 25 Veterans.
• As of April 2017, Veterans Affairs Canada has hired more than 400 new front line staff.

Associated Links

• Office Openings
• Points of Service for Veterans and their Families (Infographic)
• Points of Service (Infographic)
• Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence Mandate Letter

SOURCE Veterans Affairs Canada

For further information: Media Relations, Veterans Affairs Canada, 613-992-7468, [e-mail]; Sarah McMaster, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs, 613-996-4649

Related Links

www.veterans.gc.ca