Health and Safety Resources in Castlegar

Health Resources and Services

Here in BC, public health insurance is called the Medical Service Plan (MSP). All residents of BC, including those who are here with a study visa, are required to enroll in MSP:

MSP gives you easier access to the BC medical system. Doctor visits, emergency visits and advice on medical issues are free
Dental coverage is NOT included under MSP
Apply for MSP coverage immediately once you arrive in BC. Don't wait until the end of your waiting period so you may allow time for your application to be processed.
Before your benefits begin, you are required to complete a waiting period of up to 3 months.
You will be billed directly by the Health Insurance BC (HIBC) for the monthly premium. As an international student, your monthly premium will be $75 (as of June 2026).
Your BC MSP will expire on the same day as your study permit. If you extend your study permit or obtain work permit, you must extend your MSP coverage as well.

Make sure you have private health insurance coverage during the 3 month waiting period before you are enrolled in MSP. We recommend travel insurance health coverage from your home country, however, there are alternative options here in British Columbia.

Temporary Private Health Insurance before MSP Coverage Begins - Moving2Canada.com - https://moving2canada.com/living/healthcare/health-insurance-in-british-columbia-newcomers/#temporary-health-insurance-in-bc-before-msp-starts

How to Apply for BC Medical Service Plan (MSP) - Government of BC Website - https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/msp/bc-residents/eligibility-and-enrolment/how-to-enrol

BC MSP Monthly Premium is $75 for International Students - Government of BC Website - https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2019HLTH0114-001555

Frequently Asked Questions regarding International Students and BC MSP - Government of BC Document - https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/health-drug-coverage/medical-services-plan/bc-residents/public_qa_health-fee-international-students.pdf

Immunization Services - BC Interior Health Website - https://www.interiorhealth.ca/services/immunization-services

After enrolling in BC MSP, you can call 8-1-1 to speak with a nurse and have your health questions answered free of charge.

While there are many doctors offices in town, many of them do not accept walk-in patients. Some of them also may not be accepting new patients. Contact them to find out.

Castlegar Medical Associates
1008 Columbia Ave, Castlegar, BC
(250) 365-2161
http://castlegarmedicalassociates.ca/
Open Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM

Castlegar Medical Clinic - Kinnaird Office
1840 8 Ave, Castlegar, BC
(250) 365-7255
http://www.castlegarmedicalclinic.ca/
Open Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Castlegar & District Community Health Center
709 10 St, Castlegar, BC
(250) 365-7711
https://www.interiorhealth.ca/locations/castlegar-district-community-health-centre
Open 7 Days a week, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM

The nearest designated walk-in clinic to our office is in Nelson (~45 min drive). As with most walk-in clinics, you may have to wait up to a couple of hours before receiving care.

Kootenay Lake Medical Clinic
1140 Lakeside Dr, Nelson, BC
(250) 352-4666
https://www.kootenaylakemedical.com/
Open Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM And Saturday, 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Mental Health Resources and Services

Studying away from home is not an easy endeavour. If you are struggling, help is always available. If you are in urgent distress, please seek help immediately.

9-1-1
In the event of an immediate emergency, always call 9-1-1 and inform the operator of where you are and what is happening

9-8-8
Canada’s Suicide Crisis Helpline. Call or text 9-8-8 toll-free, any time.

1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of British Columbia. Call any time BC-based support.

Here2Talk
1-877-857-3397
www.here2talk.ca
Here2Talk connects post-secondary students in BC with mental health support when they need it. All students (including international students) currently enrolled in a BC post-secondary institution have access to confidential counselling and community referral services, available 24/7 via app, phone and web.

Castlegar Mental Health and Substance Use (CMHU)
250-304-1846
707 - 10th Street, Castlegar, BC
https://www.interiorhealth.ca/locations/castlegar-mental-health-substance-use
Castlegar’s Mental Health and Substance Use Center provides various mental health services including counselling and mental health education. Visit their website or give them a call to find out how they can help you.

BounceBack BC
https://bouncebackbc.ca/
BounceBack BC provides free access to online, video, and phone-based coaching as well as a skills-building program designed to help adults manage low moods, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, stress or worry.

Addiction and Overdose Support

MTI adheres to a strict no drug and alcohol policy on school premises.

As a driving school licensed by the Motor Vehicle Act, we always adhere to the Code of Conduct for Driver Training Licensees administered by ICBC. The Code of Conduct for Driver Training Licensees states:

Licensees will comply with the Motor Vehicle Act and its regulations and any other relevant and applicable law.

The Motor Vehicle Act prohibits any individuals from driving impaired under the effects of drugs or alcohol. To ensure MTI adheres to The Code of Conduct for Driver Training Licensees, students who (within reasonable belief) appear to impaired while on school premises (which includes the classroom, yard, front office, and any training vehicles) will be subject to disciplinary procedures outlined in the Student Dismissal Policy - 1207. This includes the potential of immediate dismissal if the prohibited conduct is of such a serious nature.

In 2016, the Province of British Columbia declared a public health emergency in response to a significant increase in drug-related overdoses and deaths.

While the number of overdoses and deaths in Castlegar remains low, it’s still important to know the signs of opioid poisoning and how you can help in the case of a suspected overdose in our community.

Someone may be experiencing an overdose if:

They are not moving or are unresponsive
They are not breathing or are breathing very slowly—less than one breath every five seconds
They are making unusual sounds, like choking, gurgling, gasping or snoring
They have tiny pupils
Their fingernails or lips are turning blue, grey or purple
Their skin feels cold and clammy

If you suspect someone is experiencing an overdoes:

Call 9-1-1 immediately
Follow the SAVE ME steps:
- Stimulate: Check if the person is responsive.
- Airway: Check and make sure nothing is blocking the airway.
- Ventilate: Put on a mask, pinch the nose and give one breath every five seconds.
- Evaluate: Breathing normally? That's one breath every five seconds.
- Medication: Give one 1ml dose of naloxone if available.
- Evaluate and support: Keep giving breaths. Give another dose every three minutes until breathing normally.

More information on responding to an overdose - https://helpstartshere.gov.bc.ca/StopOverdose

MTI does not have naloxone access on school premises nor do we offer any counseling or support services for addiction and drug use. Students should contact or visit the Castlegar Mental Health & Substance Use (MHSU) Center for naloxone access and counseling or support services for addiction and drug use:

Castlegar and District Community Health Center - Free Naloxone Access

(250) 304-1846

707 10th Street

Castlegar, BC

MTI does not offer any counseling or support services for addiction and drug use. Below are some provincial and regional resources that can provide more information:

BCCDC - Naloxone and Substance Use Information - https://towardtheheart.com/

BC Provincial Government - Get a Naloxone Kit - https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/overdose/naloxone-kit

BCCDC - Administering Naloxone - https://towardtheheart.com/naloxone-course

BC Provincial Government - BC’s Response to the Toxic Drug Crisis - https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/mental-health-and-addictions/bc-response-to-the-toxic-drug-crisis

FETCH - Local Adult Substance Use Services - https://kb.fetchbc.ca/service.html?i=420

Student Safety

Castlegar and the Kootenays in general are considered safe places to live. With this in mind, it is still important to be mindful of your surroundings and keep these general safety tips in mind:

Lock your doors and never open them for strangers
Keep your valuables stored in a safe place, not in the open or near windows
If you plan on travelling somewhere outside of cell service, inform a friend or family member of your plans and expected return time.

For more safety tips, visit the Study In BC website below - https://studyinbc.com/current-students/safety/

Unfortunately, there are many scams targeted at students, and you can be particularly vulnerable as an international student in a new country.

Please remember: No one from any government agencies, such as the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Service Canada, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), or Canada Security and Intelligence Services (CSIS), will ever contact you to ask for money, especially in non-traditional forms such as Bitcoin or gift cards.

Below are some resources to help identify potential scams. If you are ever unsure if something is a scam, please reach out to our office via phone or email and we will gladly assist you with the matter.

Housing - Rental Scam Information - RCMP
https://rcmp.ca/en/bc/safety-tips/frauds-and-scams/rental-scams

Taxes - Government of Canada Scams - Canada Revenue Agency
https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/fraud-scams.html

General - Fraud Targeting Newcomers - Government of Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/protect-fraud/newcomers.html

Canadian Anti-Fraud Center - Government of Canada
https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm