Jocelyne Lahaye

In November, my office launched a survey to find out more about ageism in B.C. and hear first hand about how age discrimination is impacting people in our province, particularly seniors. As the number of seniors in B.C. increases, it is more important than ever to examine the issue of age discrimination and how it … Read More

Scams typically ramp up during the holiday season, as fraudsters take advantage of opportunities presented by the increased flurry of activity, spending and fundraising campaigns. People of all ages can be victims of fraud. In fact, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Agency reports that Canadians have lost more than $500 million to fraud so far in 2024. … Read More

The Office of the Seniors Advocate’s updated B.C. Long-Term Care and Assisted Living Directory notes a slight increase in funding but longer wait times for long-term care. The 2024 directory provides objective, standardized information on 431 publicly-subsidized long-term care and assisted living facilities in a searchable, online format. The directory, which is updated annually, is … Read More

The October issue of our monthly newsletter is available now! The OSA Update includes news and issues that matter to B.C. seniors: Read our newsletter Subscribe to our email list to receive our newsletter in your inbox.

VICTORIA – “Today, we recognize the countless ways seniors provide invaluable contributions to communities as volunteers, elected officials, workers, mentors, friends, parents and grandparents on the International Day of Older Persons and National Seniors Day in Canada. “People aged 65+ are the fastest-growing demographic group in B.C. By 2036, one in four British Columbians will … Read More

As we transition into September and the last weeks of summer, I hope this message finds you well and ready for the changes that autumn brings. The Office of the Seniors Advocate (OSA) has had a busy summer connecting with stakeholders near and far, as well as making time to reflect on our work and … Read More

Read the OSA 2022-2023 Annual Report for highlights of our activities in the past year and details about projects that are currently underway. Message from the BC Seniors Advocate The 2023/24 fiscal year has been one of transition for the Office of the Seniors Advocate as Canada’s first seniors advocate, Isobel Mackenzie, retired after setting … Read More

Seniors independent living residences are subject to the Residential Tenancy Act. This means that rent and/or service fee increases are capped each year. The maximum allowable annual rent increase for 2024 is 3.5%.  If your rent and/or service charges have increased more than this amount, call the Residential Tenancy Branch to report your concerns. For … Read More