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This book is produced by Citizen Support Services and is a gift from the City of Burnaby. It contains information about programs, benefits, agencies and services that are available to seniors who live in the Burnaby area. To downlaod a printable copy, please click on the link below.
Burnaby Volunteers - Citizen Support Services
111-4940 Canada Way,
Burnaby BC V5G 4K6
Hours of operation: 8:00am - 4:45pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday
Thursdays: 8:00am - 8:00pm
Phone: 604.294.7980
Fax: 604.570.3614
E-mail: volunteers@cburnaby.ca
Many people in the City of Burnaby were in need of volunteer support services, so in September 1977 Burnaby City Council, in conjunction with the Federal Government, generously agreed to financially support a Volunteer Program.
This program was linked to the Health Department which, in those days, was a part of the City Administrative Structure. When the Volunteer Programs started, there were only five Health Department volunteers helping the nurses in Child Health Clinics. Today, Volunteer Services is comprised of more than 350 volunteers, who commit to providing services to children and seniors in the community who need a helping hand.
The Volunteer Programs provided by the Citizen Support Services fall into three separate groups.
These programs have been developed to support the needs of isolated, frail, housebound seniors and persons who have disabilities. These services assist people in their desire to live independently and to remain responsible for themselves for as long as possible.
You can order your groceries by phone once a week. Volunteers will call you to take your order and do the shopping at a local supermarket. The store will provide the delivery of your order. You are asked to pay by cheque. Clients must be at home Monday morning to place their order and all day Tuesday to receive their groceries.
 Grocery Shop-By-Phone Our stores are:
- IGA Marketplace
4429 Kingsway
- IGA Marketplace
1601 Burnwood Dr.
One-on-one visiting is time spent together in the client's home and provides companionship for isolated, lonely elderly people and persons who have disabilities. Visitors fill a great need as many older adults have no family or friends living nearby. Volunteers often become a substitute for family members and your friendship can be a bridge to widening their interests and activities. Volunteers are matched with clients and visits need to be regular and on-going.
Caring volunteers call clients and visit with them over the phone. They can call you every day to make sure that you are okay, or occasionally for a social call.
This program takes place twice a week. South Burnaby clients can go shopping at Metrotown Mall, and North Burnaby clients can choose either Brentwood Mall or Lougheed Mall. HandyDART will provide round trip transportation to and from the mall. A volunteer will be waiting for your arrival at the mall to help you with your personal shopping, banking or just to socialize. A wheelchair is available at the mall at no cost to you. You are responsible for the HandyDART fee.
The gadabouts trips for housebound seniors and people with disabilities take place three times a month. One trip leaves from North Burnaby, another from South Burnaby. The trips last approximately three hours. The third trip "Gadabout Wheelers" is for people who are confined to wheelchairs. Arrangements are made with HandyDART to get you to the place where the accessible bus is waiting and after the trip will return to take you home. Staff accompanying the clients have First Aid training.
This program is for housebound people. The Lunch Program is held at Confederation Community Centre and Doug Drummond Manor. Volunteer drivers take the clients to lunch where they meet other volunteers who greet them and act as their host. It's a great way to make new friends and have enjoyable conversation.
The only complete Seniors guide in the Lower Mainland, Burnaby Senior Citizen's Telephone Book is a large print book which is available free of charge to Burnaby seniors. It contains information about programs, benefits, agencies and services that are available to seniors in the City of Burnaby. You can pick up a copy from any Burnaby library or Senior’s Centre or if you are unable to get out you can order your personal copy by E-mail: volunteers@burnaby.ca; Fax: 604.570.3614; or Phone: 604.294.7980.
These programs are devoted to the well-being of children. These programs are as follows:
- Child Health Clinics
- Breast Feeding Clinics
- Hearing/Screening Clinics
- Cuddle Program
Child Health Clinics are held once a month in various locations and times throughout Burnaby. Nurses are present at the clinics in order to counsel parents and administer vaccines. The volunteer at the clinic arranges appointments, weighs infants, looks after the siblings when necessary and generally keeps the clinic running smoothly. For dates and times, contact the Fraser Health Authority at 604.918.3605.
Twice weekly, volunteers aid the nurses at Breast Feeding Clinics. Volunteers are responsible for seeing to the comfort of the parents and helping them fill out the required forms.
This program is unique to Burnaby and is now attracting positive attention from other communities. It has been designed to assist new mothers who need gentle guidance and a helping hand in caring for their newborn. Due to the reassuring visits of the volunteer, mothers who are referred to our department by professional staff manage to overcome many obstacles.
This program takes place once a year during the months of October and November. Volunteers are required to attend audiometer training sessions. Audiometers are used to screen children for possible hearing problems. Volunteers work in teams of two and visit Burnaby elementary schools to test all Kindergarten children in Burnaby.
During the screening, some of the children are referred to the Audiologist for further testing. Having a hearing loss detected at an early age makes a significant difference in their lives.
The backbone of the Burnaby Volunteers - Citizen Support Services is its dedicated and committed volunteers. We couldn't run these programs without these special people. They provide the continuity needed to keep things running smoothly and the heart to keep the clients happy.
Volunteers find themselves benefiting as they acquire new skills and knowledge, as well as develop their personal potential, self-reliance and community involvement. Volunteers say they do it because "It's the people", "Because they make a lot of new friends" and "I get so much pleasure from helping people". We salute our wonderful volunteers and welcome you to join our organization.
To apply just download the application form - [PDF 83KB] and fax it back to 604.570.3614. A staff member will contact you to arrange a convenient time for an interview.
We need volunteer drivers. To find out more, click here - [PDF 87KB].
To apply for the Emergency Social Services (for pre-disaster & disaster volunteer registration), download the following application form:
Click here to view the Winter 2007Newsletter - [PDF 968KB] - [NEW]
This program is for new mothers who have no support system in place, to help them with their new baby. The volunteer visits allow Mom to enjoy a few hours of respite.
Volunteers are needed for the Gadabouts program to pick up clients at their home and return them back home after the bus trip. These are monthly outings for housebound seniors or citizens with a physical disability who are not able to use public transit.
Volunteers are needed to pick up seniors from their home and take them for lunch at a specific location returning them back home after the outing. These are weekly outings for housebound seniors or citizens with a physical disability who are not able to use public transit.
To find out more, click here - [PDF 87KB].
Volunteers are needed to test the hearing of kindergarten children in Burnaby schools during October/November. Training is provided.
Visitors are needed to visit housebound, lonely seniors who live in Burnaby. Must be fluent in English. Second language is an asset.
Grocery and personal shopping assistance and social recreational activities is available to housebound seniors and people with disabilities who live in Burnaby. If you need help call 604.294-7980 or E-mail: volunteers@burnaby.ca
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