phone your local HandyDART office.

Kelowna

1494 Hardy Street, Kelowna  V1Y 8H2  

762-3278 

Penticton

60 Calgary Ave.  V2A 2T6

492-5814

Vernon

4210 24th Avenue  V1T 1M2 

549-1366

Kamloops

376-7525

PEOPLE IN MOTION

Addressing the needs of those with physical and sensory disabilities.  Provide self-help, support for area residents issues new and renewal Permanent & Temporary Disabled Parking Placards to qualified applicants upon receipt of a completed application (doctor’s approval required).

6E 750 Cottonwood Avenue,

Kamloops  V2B 3X2

376-7878  - 1-877-414-4241

 www.peopleinmotion.org

SPARC OF BC

• distributes parking placards to people with disabilities

• doctor’s signature required on application

• placards available at nominal cost for both permanent and temporary disabilities Social Planning and Research Council of BC

4445 N Folk Street, Burnaby  V5G 0A7

SPARC 

604-718-7733

Parking Permit Program

604-718-7744

www.sparc.bc.ca

TAXI SAVER PROGRAM

For people with disabilities living in Summerland, Kelowna,Vernon & Kamloops. This program allows passengers to use coupons for taxi travel by booking directly with a participating taxi company, without having to pre-plan the trip. Taxi Saver coupons are sold by local HandyDART offices to any adult who has been issued a BC Transit HandyPass. A person is eligible for a HandyPass if he or she has a physical or mental disability which prevents the use of regular public transit. Contact your Local handyDART operator for more information.

TRAVEL SAFETY TIPS - Carry as little money as possible...use credit cards and travellers cheques. 

• Do keep in mind that thieves frequent airports, bus terminals and train stations...they are always on lookout for an unsuspecting traveller - so beware! 

• A sure sign that you are nervous about your pocket book, etc. is to keep tapping spot where you keep it. 

• Pack luggage only when you leave resort or motel.  Never pack it and leave it standing.

AIR TRAVEL

Major Canadian airlines offer savings in several ways for travel within Canada. SENIOR CITIZENS FARE for seniors 65 and over. Reduction from regular fare and varies depending on destination and how far in advance you book.

EXCURSION FARE must be booked at least 14 days in advance and there are restrictions regarding length of stay, etc.  Reduced rate for seniors.  Special diets available if ordered in advance.  Wheelchairs available with assistance of company personnel. Be sure to check best rate for you, e.g. excursion fare may be cheaper than senior citizens fare.

BUS TRAVEL

GREYHOUND offers 10% discount on regular fares to seniors 65 and over • ask for seniors discount at time of purchase.

Greyhound Lines of Canada

ww.greyhound.com

After hours Passenger Info - Daily

1-800-661-8747

Kelowna

2366 Leckie Road, Kelowna V1X 6X2

Passenger Fares & Schedule Information 

860-3835

Westbank  2565 Main St.

768-0122

Winfield  10550 Hwy 97N

766-4448

Keremeos  603 7th Avenue 

499-5841

Okanagan Falls  5129 9th Avenue

497-8155

Oliver  9724 360th Avenue

498-2626

Osoyoos  6015 Lakeshore Drive

495-7252

Penticton  307 Ellis

493-4101

Summerland  13415 Rosedale

494-8009

Armstrong  11 3350 Smith

546-8376

Enderby  706 Cliff Avenue

838-7404

Vernon  3102  30th Street

545-0527

Kamloops  725 Notre Dame

374-1212

Barriere  397 Yellowhead Hwy.

627-5624

Cache Creek  1064 S Trans-Canada

457-6232

Chase  421 Shuswap

679-8432

Merritt  1101 McFarlane

378-2335

CAMPGROUNDS

For BC seniors, provincial campground rates are reduced 50% from Labour Day to June 14th

• full fees are required during the peak season • must be over the age of 65 and a BC resident.

MINISTRY OF PARKS

Okanagan Lake Provincial Park - Hwy 97 - 11 kilometres north of Summerland

494-6500

PARKS CANADA

You can avoid line-ups at the gates when you purchase your passes ahead of time at a Parks Canada Service Centre. You can order your passes by phone, using a major credit card. Within the parks, you can purchase passes at visitor centres, staffed campgrounds, fees are subject to regulatory approval, children under 6 free.

National Office: 25 Eddy St., Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0M5

1-888-773-8888

FERRY TRAVEL

BC Ferry Corporation offers free passenger fare to seniors age 65 and over Monday through Thursday, except statutory holidays, exceptions apply  • regular fare charged for vehicle • proof of age may be required, e.g. Gold CareCard

BC FERRY CORPORATION

1112 Fort Street, Victoria  V8V 4V2  

1-888-223-3779

www.bcferries.ca

VIA RAIL

Offers 10% discount on regular fare to seniors age 60 and over, applies to basic transportation only – berths, meals, etc. charged at regular rate • persons not able to take care of own personal needs can take assistant with them at no extra charge - advise VIA of needs and

carry card from recognized association or a medical certificate • wheelchair passengers lifted on board

Information/Reservations

1-888-842-7245

www.viarail.ca

WEST COAST RAILWAY ASSOCIATION

A group of railway enthusiasts offers low cost trips - mainly day trips by train.  Also, extensive railway excursions throughout BC(including Vancouver Island) and Washington State.  Rebuilds and restores vintage and historic railway equipment (including steam engines).

Box 2790, Stn Main, Vancouver V6B 3X2

1-800-722-1233

www.wcra.org

CANADIAN RESIDENTS RETURNING TO CANADA       

When you return to Canada, you may qualify for a personal exemption. Personal exemptions allow you to bring goods of a certain value into the country without paying the regular duties. If you have been outside Canada for:

• 24 hours or more, you can bring in CAN$50 worth of goods free of duty and tax;

• 48 hours or more, you can bring in CAN$200 worth of goods free of duty and tax;

• 7 days or more, you can bring in CAN$750 worth of goods free of duty and tax.

Alcohol and Tobacco - Restrictions apply to the amount of alcohol and tobacco you can bring into Canada under your exemption. If you have been outside Canada for at least 48 hours and are of legal age, you can bring in these amounts of alcohol and tobacco  products free of duty and tax as part of your personal exemption:

Alcoholic beverages:

• 1.14 L (40 oz.) of liquor; or l 1.5 L of wine; or

• 24 X 355 ml (12 oz.) containers of beer. Tobacco products (all of the following):

• 200 cigarettes;  l 50 cigars or cigarillos;

• 200 tobacco sticks; and

• 200 g (7 oz.) of manufactured tobacco.

If you bring in more than the free allowance of alcohol or tobacco,

you will be required to pay the applicable duties and taxes. As of October 1, 2001, if you include cigarettes, tobacco sticks, or loose tobacco in your personal exemption allowance, only a partial exemption will apply. You will have to pay a minimum duty on these products unless they are marked “CANADA – DUTY PAID – DROIT ACQUITTÉ.”

You will find Canadian-made products sold at a duty-free shop marked this way. You can speed up your clearance by having your tobacco products available for inspection when you arrive.

CANADA BORDER SERVICES AGENCY

To find out the duty rate of an article, or to learn more about your rights and responsibilities under customs law, contact our Automated Customs Information Service (ACIS). ACIS is a computerized 24-hour telephone service that automatically answers all incoming calls and provides general customs information. You can use a touch-tone telephone to hear the recorded information in either official language. If you call during office hours, you can also speak directly to an agent if you need more specific information. If you use a rotary-dial telephone, you cannot hear the ACIS message. However, if you call during office hours, your call will be transferred directly to an agent. Information line                    

1-800-461-9999

District Office – Pacific Highway          

www.cbsa.gc.ca

PASSPORTS NEEDED TO ENTER U.S. BY AIR AND SEA

The U.S. Homeland Security Department requires all Canadians to carry passports when crossing land borders, reglulations to come into effect Jan. 1, 2008. Previously, U.S. and Canadian citizens were allowed to enter the Untited States from the Western Hemisphere if they presented an identification document like a driver’s licence. The U.S. Senate has passed an amendment that would delay the start of the new land border rules until mid-2009, but the House of Representatives has not passed similar legislation that we are aware of. The Homeland Security Department said it would also accept NEXUS Air cards for air travellers, cards available  for $80 to frequent air travellers. They are, however, so far only available at the Vancouver airport as part of a pilot project. NEXUS Air provides self-service kiosks, bypassing the normal customs and immigration lines. Members are identified by iris recognition technology. There are no changes to the rules for entering Canada at this time. If travelling by any commercial carrier, please take the time and check on their boarding requirements. 

PERMANENT RESIDENT CARD

The permanent resident (PR) card is a wallet-sized, plastic status card that replaces the paper IMM 1000 Record of Landing document. As of December 31, 2003, the PR card will be the proof of status document required by permanent residents seeking to re-enter Canada on a commercial carrier (airplane, boat, train or bus).