Helpful Consumer Links
INSURANCE – RESIDENTIAL |
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| Insurance Bureau of Canada | The Insurance Bureau of Canada, the association for general insurance companies in Canada, provides tips for insuring all types of residential properties. |  |
| Homeowner Safety Brochures | The Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction provides helpful information for protecting your home from flooding, severe wind, snow and ice, wildfire and earthquake. | |
| Strata Housing | Owners and residents in all strata properties must the follow the Strata Property Act and Regulations as well as the strata’s bylaws and rules. | |
| Strata Insurance | Strata property owners should become familiar with laws regarding insuring their building and common property, and the importance of having a separate policy for their unit and contents. | |
INSURANCE – BUSINESS |
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| Business Insurance | The Insurance Bureau of Canada provides information on insurance for businesses. | |
| Open for Business | A free business-continuity package. | |
INSURANCE – AUTO |
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| Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) | ICBC is responsible for all driver registration and vehicle licensing throughout B.C. | |
| Road Safety | Tips on safe driving, road conditions, speeding, auto crime and how to buy a safer vehicle, published by ICBC. | |
| Ministry of Transportation and Transit | A wide range of transportation safety topics including: speed limits, wildlife collisions, and winter driving. | |
GENERAL SAFETY & EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS |
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| Emergency Preparedness, Response & Recovery |
The provincial government provides information on local emergency programs. |
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| Get Prepared |
Practical information for creating an emergency safety plan for your family. |
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| Weather Office |
Up-to-date forecasts to keep you abreast of any hazardous weather conditions. |
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| Public Safety & Emergency Services | Resources relating to community safety, crime prevention, liquor control and licensing, fire safety and fraud protection. | |
Crime |
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| BC Crime Prevention | Resources for province-wide crime awareness and prevention such as, home security, arson, auto theft and fraud. | |
| Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) | Public resources and crime statistics. | |
| Block Watch Society of B.C. | Block Watch helps residents reduce crime and promote neighbourhood security. | |
| E-Comm 911 | An overview of how to report emergency vs. non-emergency crime situations. | |
| The Vancouver Police Department | Resources for getting involved with Community Policing and Citizens' Crime Watch. | |
| Crime Free Housing | A certification program for rental property owners who want to create and maintain crime-free housing. | |
Cycling safety |
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| Hub, your cycling connection | A charitable organization on a mission to make cycling an attractive commuting option for everyone. | |
| Bike Sense BC | Cycling safety with a B.C. focus. | |
Pedestrian safety |
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| Road Sense | ICBC has free learning resources created by road safety experts and educators to help B.C. students develop road safety skills and awareness. | |
Fire |
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| Canadian Fire Safety Association | National site dedicated to fire prevention and education. |  |
| Office of the Fire Commissioner | Information on fire safety and prevention. | |
| Contains resources related to wildfire threat. | ||
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Report a Wildfire: |
1-800-663-5555 or 5555 from a cellular phone. | |
| Safe at Home | Fire-safety tips, techniques and product information. Test your home's safety with the "Safety Quiz." | |
Flood |
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| Provincial Flood Information | Up-to-date information on flooding in B.C. | |
| B.C. Floodplain Maps | Ministry of Environment floodplain maps and design briefs. | |
Earthquake |
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| ShakeOut BC | A province-wide drill designed to educate the public in the event of a major earthquake. | |
| Provincial Earthquake Information | What to do before, during and after a quake. A downloadable booklet, Earthquake and Tsunami Smart, is available. | |
| Earthquake Risk Tool | A risk-mapping tool provided by the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction. | |
HOMEOWNER & TENANT GENERAL INFORMATION |
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| Canadian Mortgage & Housing Corporation (CMHC) | Current housing information, for consumers looking to, buy, rent or renovate a home. |  |
| Condominium Home Owners Association of B.C. (CHOA) | Resources, advocacy and education for condo owners and strata corporations in B.C. | |
| Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre (TRAC) | Information on tenants' rights in B.C. | |
| Co-op Housing Federation of B.C. | Information related to co-op housing in B.C. | |
| Vancouver Island Strata Owners Association (VISO) | A resource guide for strata owners on Vancouver Island. | |
FINANCIAL PLANNING and SAFETY |
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| Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) | Useful information to help you with all your financial planning, from making a budget to shopping for a mortgage. | |
| Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre | Tips on how to recognize report and stop fraud. | |
| Scams and Fraud | Protect yourself from scams and fraud including: identity theft, email fraud, mass marketing, internet-related fraud and investment fraud. | |
| Unclaimed Property | Search for any unclaimed funds to which you may be entitled. | |
DISPUTE RESOLUTION |
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| General Insurance OmbudService | The GIO is an independent dispute resolution service for complaints related to home, auto or business insurance. | |
| Mediate BC | The Mediate BC Society provides a range of dispute resolution services in B.C. | |
| Civil Resolution Tribunal | An online resource for resolving strata and, in time, small claims disputes. | |