About Nelson & Region
- City of Nelson – Municipal website
- Discover Nelson – Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce
- Imagine Kootenay – a joint initiative of local governments, economic development organizations and Chambers of Commerce in the Kootenay and Boundary region.
- Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism: Know Before You Go – information about wildfires, Covid, etc and the impact on local resources.
- Regional District of Central Kootenay
Information for Residents
- City Services (City of Nelson) – list with links to city departments
- Farmers Market (City of Nelson) – Cottonwood Falls Park Wed & Sat
- FireSmart Property Assessments – free awareness program that provides communities and individual homeowners with simple steps to reduce the impact of wildfires before they occur. Link also to Homeowner’s Manual.
- Food Security – information & resources including food banks
- Invasive Species Alert (Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society) – strives to keep our lakes pristine, forests lush, mountains healthy and economies thriving through education and managing invasive species in an effective way.
- Water restrictions (City of Nelson)- current updates
Tourism, Culture and Sports
- Discover Nelson Visitor Centre – Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce located on west Baker in Railtown–first stop for visitors for information and maps!
- Nelson District Community Centre
- Nelson & District Arts Council
- Nelson Electric Tramway Society – ride the streetcar (seasonal)
- Nelson and Kootenay Lake Tourism
- Oxygen Art Centre – programs and exhibits
- Rail Trail (Great Northern, Nelson) – multi-use recreation trail suitable for hiking, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing. Access the trail via the Mountain Station parking lot (top of Gore Street)
- Slocan Valley Rail Trail – all-season trail for non-motorized community use, including walking, biking and cross-country skiing!
- Nelson Museum & Art Gallery
- Trailforks: Nelson – mountain biking
- West Kootenay Eco Society
- Whitewater Skiing
Getting Around & Travel
- Bus Schedule
- Glacier Cabs 250-354-1111
Community Services & Resources
- Advocacy Centre – provides legal information, education and problem solving for low-income residents of the West Kootenays. 250-352-5777
- ANKORS – AIDS Network, Outreach & Support Society 250-352-5777
- Basic Needs / Support (KB Fetch)
- BC 211 – connects people to helpful and vital resources in their community.
- BC Rural Health Hub – health information to rural, remote and First Nations.
- CBAL (Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy) – offers one-on-one tech sessions including iPad classes.
- Coinations (Circle of Indigenous Nations Society) – Aboriginal non-profit society that provides cultural support and counselling services to people in the West Kootenay and Boundary region.
- First Nations Virtual Doctor – unique service for First Nations people in BC and their family members. The program includes doctors of Indigenous ancestry.
- Good Food Bank (operated by the Nelson Community Food Centre)
- Kootenay Seniors
- Kootenay Jobs (KCDS) – offers free printing related to job searches, ie. resumes, career help including training, workshops etc.
- Nelson Cares / Stepping Stones – Emergency Shelter
- Nelson Community Food Centre (was Food Cupboard)
- Nelson Transition House – emergency safe shelter and support for self identifying women and children leaving domestic violence and abuse. Phone: 250-354-HELP (250-354-4357). Services are also available by online chat and text messaging.
- Nelson & District Seniors Coordinating Society
- Nelson & District Women’s Centre
- RCMP – Nelson Detachment
- Stroke Recovery Association of BC: Nelson Branch Coordinator: Marg Dietrich / Phone: 250-354-4453T
- The Hub – new drop-in service centre in Nelson at 521 Vernon Street. Open 7 days a week from 1-5 and has air conditioning, snacks, drinks, clothing, shoes and outreach services. It also has access to low-barrier inter-agency services including employment, health services, OAT and e-OPS.
- VictimLink BC 1-800-563-0808
- Victim Services (Nelson Police) 250-505-5657
Skills Development & Training
- CBAL (Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy) – offers one-on-one tech sessions including iPad classes.
- KCDS Virtual Services (Kootenay Career & Development Services) – including RAFT (Retail Accommodation Food and Tourism Training) and Smart Launch – Young Adult Skills.
- Nelson Public Library:
- Computer Basics
- Free Courses: – quality learning opportunities at no cost for you!
- Learning Events & Workshops
- Selkirk College – offers computer basics courses (for PCs) for people returning to school or for employment purposes
Classified Ads for Nelson/Kootenays
Looking for services not covered here?
Please ask a Librarian!. We are here to help.
You can also call 211 for a free, confidential, multilingual information and referral line to a full range of community, social, and government services. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you would like further information or if you spot a change that is needed you can contact us.