Just Ask: What Supports Are Available for Seniors and Residents in Pender Harbour?
Hayley Toth | Sunshine Coast Resource Centre
The Sunshine Coast Resource Resource Centre, in partnership with the Pender Harbour Health Centre, is excited to introduce Pender Connections, an initiative designed to help local residents access essential programs and services. Pender Harbour is home to over 3,000 residents, with a notably larger proportion of seniors than the provincial average. Combined with the lack of public transit — the only alternative being Seniors Link — these factors highlight the importance of programs that support older adults and low-income residents.
Note: Seniors Link is a free transportation service offered by Pender Harbour Health Centre (PHHC) and funded by United Way BC. It provides seniors (60+) with a hop-on/hop-off return trip from Egmont to Sechelt Tuesday through Thursday, helping seniors travel safely and independently. For more information contact betterathome@penderharbourhealth.com, Call: 604-212-2232 or visit: penderharbourhealth.com for bus schedule.
Pender Connections aims to fill these gaps by helping residents navigate and connect with the programs and services they need. As part of this effort, community members have free access to a desktop computer and printer/scanner at the Bathgate Store in Egmont. The computer comes with bookmarked links to key government and local program websites, and a folder of frequently used printed forms — such as Service Canada and legal aid documents — is ready for immediate use. Residents can access these resources free of charge during the Bathgate Store’s open hours. Call ahead at 604-883-2222 to confirm hours. The Bathgate Store is located at 6781 Bathgate Rd, Egmont.
Twice a month, Pender Connections outreach will take place at the PHHC, 5066 Francis Peninsula Road, with a rotating resource featured each visit. Additionally, Tanis, the Seniors Community Connector, will be available on the fourth Thursday of each month at 1 PM to provide in-person assistance.
Upcoming Pender Connections Outreach at PHHC:
- Community Action Team Meeting: Thursday, November 13 at 1 PM
- Community Connector Session: Thursday, November 27 at 1 PM, Pender Harbour Health Centre
Pender Connections is part of a broader effort to strengthen support networks in Pender Harbour, helping seniors, low-income residents, and the wider community overcome barriers to services, transportation, and digital access. This partnership is made possible thanks to support from the Sunshine Coast Foundation Prosperity Fund. Residents needing help accessing resources in Pender Harbour or anywhere on the Lower Sunshine Coast can reach out to the Sunshine Coast Resource Centre at help@resourcecentre.ca or 604-885-4088.