Penticton & Area Access Centre

05/14/2026

As another tax season comes to a close, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate and recognize the incredible volunteers, community partners, and supporters who made this year’s Community Volunteer Income Tax Program such a success 💙

This March and April, we completed more than 1350 tax returns, helping bring millions back into the pockets of individuals and families throughout our community. These refunds and benefits make a real difference — helping people access housing, groceries, healthcare, transportation, and other essential supports.

To celebrate the end of the season, we were so grateful to gather for a volunteer appreciation wrap-up party and reflect on the impact this program continues to have in our community.

A huge thank you to our amazing volunteers who dedicated countless hours to supporting community members with care, patience, and compassion. This program would not be possible without you.

Thank you to Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen for helping us secure a space for the tax program again this year.

Thank you to SOICS for generously lending chairs to support the program and our appreciation event.

Thank you to Evolve Sparkling House for providing celebratory fizz to help us toast another successful tax season.

Thank you to Jafa Signs for providing sign frames for the program and helping make our space welcoming and visible to the community.

Although the main tax season has wrapped up, our tax program continues year-round every Thursday from 1:00–4:00pm out of the main Penticton and Area Access Centre office to help support community members with ongoing tax filing needs.

We are so proud of what was accomplished this season and grateful to everyone who helped make it happen. We can’t wait to do it all again next year!

04/22/2026

On April 22, we celebrate Administrative Professionals Day, and we want to take a moment to recognize the incredible behind-the-scenes staff who keep everything running smoothly at the Access Centre.

Your organization, care, attention to detail, and steady support make it possible for our frontline services to do what we do best support our community.

Thank you for everything you do. We appreciate you today and every day!

04/20/2026

This week, we’re celebrating the incredible volunteers who make the Access Centre what it is.

From our dedicated Tax Volunteers helping community members navigate filing season, to our Farmers Market Volunteers connecting people with fresh, healthy food your impact is felt every single day.

To our Administration Volunteers, thank you for keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes, and to our committed Board Members, your leadership and vision help guide everything we do.

Your time, compassion, and commitment strengthen our community in ways that truly matter. We couldn’t do this work without you thank you for being the heart of the Access Centre.

04/17/2026

If you have access to your CRA online account, the Canada Grocery Benefit top-up is scheduled to be deposited on June 5, 2026.

This payment is a top-up to the GST/HST credit to help offset the rising cost of groceries. Eligibility is based on your most recent tax return and income level, and no application is required.

If you have access to your CRA account, you can log in to view your payment amount in advance.

Looking ahead, the new Canada Grocery Benefit will replace the GST/HST credit, with the first regular payment expected on July 5, 2026.

04/15/2026

📣 Tax Season Reminder – Deadline April 30 📣

Since January 2026, our hardworking Tax Volunteers have helped bring just over $8.8 MILLION back into our community through tax returns and key benefits, including refunds, GST, GIS, the Canada Child Benefit, BC Climate Action Tax Credit, and the BC Renters Benefit!

That’s millions of dollars supporting individuals and families right here in our community.

A reminder that the tax filing deadline is April 30th—don’t miss out on benefits you may be entitled to!

A huge thank you to our incredible volunteers for making this impact possible

04/14/2026

04/12/2026

Did you know about the BC Renters Credit?

It’s one of the many benefits that can be unlocked just by filing your taxes!

You may be eligible if:
✔️ You rented in B.C. for at least 6 months in 2025
✔️ You paid rent
✔️ You were 19+, a parent, or living with a spouse/common-law partner as of Dec 31, 2025

To claim it, you’ll need:
📄 Landlord or agency name
📍 Rental address
📅 Number of months rented
💰 Total rent paid

04/10/2026

Tax season is here, and so are scams

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) does NOT send text messages with personal or financial information, including details about your tax refund.

If you receive a suspicious message, don’t click any links or share your information.

Stay informed and protect yourself by checking the CRA’s official scam alert page regularly.

Visit: canada.ca/taxes-fraud-prevention

Let’s look out for one another this tax season—stay safe and stay smart 💙

04/08/2026

Great news from 100 Homes Penticton!

Castanet: "The South Okanagan–Similkameen will see a more "coordinated, regional approach to homelessness prevention and housing access" after United Way BC announced a new partnership on Wednesday.

United Way will be working with the City of Penticton and the RDOS in expanding 100 More Homes through a new three-year Memorandum of Understanding (2026–2028).

At the end of 2025, Princeton Mayor Spencer Coyne asked for assurance from the City of Penticton that winter shelter operations would continue.

Coyne asked for the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen to engage with the "City of Penticton to develop a Memorandum of Understanding outlining mutual expectations and commitments relating to the operation of the Temporary Winter Shelter."

Concerns about shelter operations have been vocal, following the City of Penticton's vote against a provincially funded tiny homes project in December. The project would have involved installing 50 transitional housing units in the industrial area.

Homelessness is not just a Penticton issue — smaller towns and rural communities across the region are struggling too.

It was agreed that the RDOS would have a position on the 100 More Homes committee that would be equal to the same position that the City of Penticton has.

At the start of March, Penticton City Council agreed to ask the province for support and investment to "strengthen the detox, treatment and recovery continuum in Penticton, with a focus on establishing lower-barrier transitional housing, establishing local inpatient withdrawal management and expanding treatment and recovery housing."

United Way BC serves as the backbone organization for 100 More Homes, and stated they will continue to do so.

They said in Wednesday's press release that they will continue "providing neutral community coordination, staffing support, data infrastructure, and facilitation for partners working to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring."

The original small grassroots initiative of 100 More Homes was originally launched in Penticton in 2016. It has grown into a formal collective of nearly 50 organizations working across housing, health, social services, and government.

The goal for United Way in this regional expansion is to address housing instability as a shared challenge and to support RDOS communities so residents can access help closer to home.

“Penticton has seen first-hand how effective coordinated action can be. Since launching 100 More Homes in our community nearly a decade ago, we’ve watched it grow into a model that others want to learn from,” Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield said in the news release.

“Expanding this work across the region builds on that foundation and ensures more residents can benefit from the same collaborative, data-driven approach that has strengthened supports here at home.”

RDOS chair Mark Pendergraft said the partnership is a shared commitment to working beyond municipal boundaries.

The expansion plans to strengthen regional data collection and coordinated access through the BC Tri-Lateral Alignment Project, which brings together provincial, federal, and Indigenous partners.

The aim is to "advance non-market housing initiatives for youth and seniors, support emergency response and preparedness, and enhance community engagement across RDOS communities."

United Way BC said other municipalities across BC, having seen 100 More Homes’ success in Penticton, have contacted them to ask how this approach might be replicated in their communities."

04/08/2026

We’re so excited to share that Access Centre has been nominated for multiple areas in the Best of Penticton 2026!

We’re incredibly grateful to be part of such a supportive community and to do the work we love every day 💛

If you’d like to support us, we’d be so grateful for your vote!

Thank you for being part of our community we couldn’t do this without you.