I used a Visa agency downtown:
https://www.anyvisa.ca/. They charged me $250 all in - which I know is quite pricey but if you search around Vancouver only has a Russian Honorary Consul (both are on the same floor of the same building on W Hastings St., imagine that!) so you will need to mail your passport to Ottawa to get it by yourself.
You will also need an invitation before you can even get the visa - I did mine through
Real Russia | Russian Visa support. The visa agency can do it too, but I found this is cheaper - about $30. Basically they get a Travel Agency in Russia to send you a .pdf letter which 'proves' you booked an 'itinerary' with them so you can be granted a visa.
Yes it's a pain-in-the-ass byzantine process but worth it in the end. If you're doing the ferry entry you'll get the 72 hour visa so you'll be spared this process.