everyone deserves health

Community Health Services

Health care is an essential part of  helping people who have been homeless and/or impoverished reach their full potential. The Cool Aid Community Health Centre provides healthcare to more than 7,000 patients, including those experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, infectious disease, problematic substance use and chronic illnesses. Our partners include Island Health and the City of Victoria.

We are not a drop-in clinic and due to high demand, the Cool Aid Community Health Centre is not able to take new patients until further notice, nor will we keep a waiting list.

Please note: The mandate of our Community Health Centre – including mobile clinics – is to provide barrier-free access to healthcare for those who are precariously housed, homeless, and/or challenged by complex mental health and substance use issues. At this time, our services do not extend to those who do not meet that specific criteria.

Clients at Centre of Community Health Services

Primary Health Care

The Community Health Centre is changing the way we do care, so we can better care for all.

If you are already a health centre patient, you may be able to speak with a doctor, nurse or pharmacy team member to address your medical concern via telephone at 250-385-1466 or by email at medicalreception@coolaid.org.

Cool Aid is expanding its Health Outreach Team which delivers medical and health services beyond the Community Health Centre, to provide care on site at many new locations. To learn when the Health Outreach Team will be at your site, check the Cool Aid Health Outreach Team poster at your location or click on the monthly schedule below.

Please note: The mandate of our Community Health Centre – including mobile clinics – is to provide barrier-free access to healthcare for those who are precariously housed, homeless, and/or challenged by complex mental health and substance use issues. At this time, our services do not extend to those who do not meet that specific criteria.


The Community Health Centre has a multi-disciplinary team of medical professionals who are experienced at working in a community health setting. We have expertise in Hepatitis C, PrEP to prevent HIV, opioid agonist therapy, and support groups for chronic conditions such as pain management and Hep C. Our doctors and nurses are world leaders in Hep C and HIV research.

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Location & Hours

Cool Aid Community Health Centre

713 Johnson Street

Victoria, BC

(250) 385-1466 / (778) 698-1219 fax

medicalreception@coolaid.org

Monday: 9 am to 6 pm
Tuesday: 9 am to 6 pm
Wednesday: 9 am to 8 pm
Thursday: 9 am to 8 pm
Friday: 9 am to 3 pm
Saturday: 10 am to 2 pm
Sunday: Closed
Stat. Holidays: Closed

Health Services Medical Exam

Mobile Health Clinic powered by TELUS Health

Please note: The mandate of our Community Health Centre – including mobile clinics – is to provide barrier-free access to healthcare for those who are precariously housed, homeless, and/or challenged by complex mental health and substance use issues. At this time, our services do not extend to those who do not meet that specific criteria.

Health outreach is a critical part of Cool Aid Community Health Centre’s services and an important way to reach the thousands of people who face barriers to primary health care in our region. Working in partnership with TELUS Health for Good, Cool Aid is building on the important work done previously in the region by Doctors of the World (following its donation of the mobile clinic to Cool Aid). The Cool Aid Mobile Health Clinics powered by TELUS Health visit several locations in the Capital region.

Services include:

  • Trauma-informed primary medical services
  • Wound care
  • Covid-19 assessments and testing
  • Routine testing, contraception
  • Harm reduction services
  • STI treatment
  • Mental health supports

Clinic 1 current schedule

Clinic 2 current schedule

Thanks to CATIE for this fabulous video about our mobile health outreach!

Dental Clinic

The Cool Aid Dental Clinic provides dental services to anyone, including those on social assistance, with disabilities, on a fixed or low income, with refugee status, with First Nations status, and those on parole services. We provide a safe and friendly environment with a dedicated group of dental professionals that takes pride in making a difference in the dental health of people who may have faced barriers to accessing services in the past.

Our services include: examinations, x-rays, fillings, extractions, cleaning, polishing, fluoride varnish, root canal treatment, complete and partial dentures, and emergency care.

We do not provide treatment under general anesthetic, or cosmetic procedures (like veneers). We collaborate with other dental professionals to provide referrals for care we do not provide.

Cool Aid Dental is here for you!

Please call for an introduction to our clinic. Due to high demand, we are unable to schedule appointments for new patients (anyone who began accessing services in 2022 or later). New patients are welcome to see us on a drop-in basis.

Our drop-in schedule and availability changes from week to week. If you plan to drop-in, we recommend calling a day or two in advance to help ensure you visit on the best day for your treatment.

In general, we take drop-in patients Tuesday to Friday. Please line up outside the building entrance by 8:30 a.m. Everyone lined up by then will be entered in a draw to be added to the drop-in list. Please come prepared to wait as long as it takes to be seen. We do our best to see every drop-in patient as soon as possible, but there is a chance you will wait all day, and there is no guarantee you will be seen that day.

Should you miss the morning draw, we will conduct a second draw at 11 a.m. if there is space on the drop-in list.

Payment

Cool Aid Dental is a lower-cost dental clinic. Patients without dental insurance will receive a 20% discount off the current BCDA fee guide. All dental insurance and payment methods are accepted. We also offer payment plans to suit our clients’ needs

New patients

New patients, please complete the Patient Registration and Medical History forms below and bring them to your first visit. If you are unable to fill out these forms in advance, or if you need assistance filling them out, we can help when you arrive at the clinic.

Patient Registration and Medical History Forms

Cool Aid Dental continues to follow Provincial Health guidelines, as well as recommendations from the BCCDC. To keep everyone safe, please support us by doing these things:

1. Please do not come to the clinic if you have any cold or flu symptoms, or symptoms of COVID-19.

2. Although masks are no longer required to be worn by patients, please consider wearing a mask in our waiting room. We have surgical masks available for your convenience.

 

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Location & Hours

Access Health Centre, 2nd Floor

713 Johnson Street

Victoria, BC

(250) 383-5957

dentalreception@CoolAid.org

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 9 am to 4 pm (closed from 1 to 2 pm for lunch)
Wednesday: 9 am to 4 pm (closed from 1 to 2 pm for lunch)
Thursday: 9 am to 4 pm (closed from 1 to 2 pm for lunch)
Friday: 9 am to 3 pm (closed from 12 to 1 pm for lunch)
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Stat. Holidays: Closed

Dental Services Exam

Pharmacy Dispensary

 The Cool Aid pharmacy directly supports the vision and goals of the Community Health Centre to reduce the significant barriers that can affect access to health services. New patients are welcome. The pharmacy provides affordable prescriptions and over-the-counter medications.

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Location & Hours

Access Health Centre, 1st Floor

713 Johnson Street

Victoria, BC

(250) 385-8469/(250) 383-5933 fax

pharmacy@CoolAid.org

Monday: 9 am to 6 pm
Tuesday: 9 am to 6 pm
Wednesday: 9 am to 8 pm
Thursday: 9 am to 8 pm
Friday: 9 am to 3 pm
Saturday: 10 am to 2 pm
Sunday: Closed
Stat. Holidays: Closed

Working at the Cool Aid Pharmacy

Health Partners & Other Services

Cool Aid’s Community Health Centre work closely with Island Health, local hospitals, specialists & others. Below are some additional services you may find helpful.

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Island Health