The mission of BC & Alberta Guide Dogs is to meet the growing demand for professionally trained Guide Dogs, Autism Support Dogs and OSI-PTSD Service Dogs for citizens of British Columbia and Alberta. At all times we meet or exceed international standards as established by the International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International.

BC & Alberta Guide Dogs endeavours to change the lives of the blind/visually impaired, individuals with autism, and military and RCMP Veterans. It takes two years and upwards of $35,000 to produce one certified dog, provided free of charge to the recipient. For these reasons, we rely heavily on our generous and loyal donors.

Our Story

The organization was founded in 1996 and began professionally training Guide Dogs for blind and visually-impaired British Columbians. In the years following, we have expanded so we can serve unmet needs.

Our Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers are dedicated to improving the availability of Guide Dogs, Autism Support Dogs, and OSI-PTSD Service Dogs, including breeding, raising/training more dogs, and continuing to give care to dogs that are currently with human partners.

• June 28, 1996: British Columbia Guide Dog Services was incorporated as a registered charity, becoming British Columbia’s first guide dog school, and was registered in British Columbia as an extra-provincial society under the Society Act on August 8, 1996.
• 2001: B.C. Guide Dog Services became a member of the International Guide Dog Federation, an international accrediting body.
• 2002: B.C. Guide Dog Services registered the title Alberta Guide Dog Services to provide also provide its services to citizens of Alberta.
• May 30, 2002: British Columbia Guide Dogs was registered as an extra-provincial corporation in Alberta.
• December 2008: British Columbia Guide Dogs founded Autism Support Dogs in partnership with the Victor and Anna Kern Foundation, the Vandekerkhove Family Foundation, the Diamond Foundation and Variety – The Children’s Charity.
• 2008: B.C. & Alberta Guide Dogs became members of Assistance Dogs International (ADI).
• Fall of 2014: BC Guide Dogs and Autism Support Dogs amalgamated to form one organization, collectively known as BC & Alberta Guide Dogs. Alberta Guide Dogs and Autism Support Dogs are divisions of BC Guide Dogs.
• December of 2018: BC Guide Dogs officially amalgamated with Vancouver Island Compassion Dogs (VICD). VICD is a Division of BC Guide Dogs.