The Veterans Affairs Office in Prince George will officially reopen its doors on May 25.
The office, along with nine others across Canada, was closed in 2012.
Located on the fourth floor at 299 Victoria St., Veterans Affairs will serve approximately 1,200 veterans from northern B.C. and Yukon.
Veterans in northern B.C. like Billy Geernaert from Fort St. James, welcomed the news.
"It was like we were forgotten up here in the north. Legions are closing down everywhere and services are all in the south. A lot of us here can't deal with big cities. So many veterans haven't been receiving the services they need, especially older ones who can't drive," Geernaert said.
In 2009, Geernaert, now 40, was wounded when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan.
He was recognized with a Mentioned-In-Dispatches for repelling the attack and safeguarding his fellow soldiers.
"Our veterans need support and it's good to have somewhere close to go. It's so convenient and it's always better to talk to someone face to face," Geernaert said.
"This is such a great thing," said John Scott, service officer for Legion Branch 43 and vice-president for B.C. Yukon Command.
"It's the fact that our vets can see a qualified case worker and speak face to face with someone and that makes a big difference," Scott said.
Scott and local legion members lobbied to have the office reopened.
"I feel like we've really accomplished something," Scott said.
Veteran's Affairs Minister Kent Hehr committed $78 million last August to reopen the offices.
The department is continuing to hire up to 400 new employees to help ensure that veterans, Canadian Armed Forces members, RCMP personnel and first responders and their families are provided with the best possible services when and where they need them, according to Hehr.
"I am extremely proud to be reopening doors that were previously closed to veterans and their families here in Prince George.
"They have selflessly answered the call to serve our country and now we are answering their call by enhancing financial benefits, restoring and expanding access to critical services, expanding service in British Columbia and the territories and hiring more front-line staff," Hehr said.
Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty also praised the reopening of the office.
Doherty introduced Bill C-211 before the House of Commons establishing a national framework for those military and first responders dealing with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
"Having the Veterans' office reopened in Prince George has been on our radar for a while and something we've been pushing," Doherty said.
"I celebrate the opening of the office and hope that we are able to provide the best service possible to our military families when and where they need it."
The Veterans Affairs office case managers will be available to work with veterans on a one-on-one basis.
Services for veterans include answering questions about services and benefits, arranging pension and medical examinations, assisting veterans to complete and submit applications and receipts and meeting with case-managers.
"It's so good to know that our vets are being looked after," Scott said.
