A decision by Canada Post to offer less service by June 1 does not sit well with the town’s mayor and council and the residents are being encouraged to speak out and voice their displeasure at the latest move.
According to a letter distributed to the public by Scott Cloarec, local area superintendent, retail products and services will no longer be available at the Bentley IDA Post Office in Bentley after June 1.
The change will mean parcels cannot be picked up or mailed from Bentley and people will be forced to drive to Lacombe to pick up parcels that have been mailed to them.
Mayor Greg Rathjen said he believes a drop off mailing bin will remain and mail will continue to be delivered to post office boxes.
The letter from Cloarec states a selection process is underway to provide a new location for postal services in Bentley.
However, Cloarec did not return phone calls from the Review to confirm this process.
The letter states parcels may be picked up at the Town Centre Post Office located at Rexall Drugs in Lacombe at 5010-53 Street on Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Full postal services are also available at Rimbey and Sylvan Lake post offices.
Rathjen said council is not happy with the changes and believe it is critical that full local postal services be restored.
“We have had many years as a community with local and rural service both as a corporate post office and then as a shared postal corporate post box and rural route delivery with the local private postal outlet at Bentley IDA. Without community facing difficult times we are struggling like many other smaller communities to keep our businesses and services available and viable.”
Rathjen said the loss of the postal service will create a damaging impact.
“If this is allowed to continue we will experience greater loss to our citizens and businesses alike. We are a small community that is working very hard to keep providing for our community, schools, citizens and businesses.”
Rathjen said he has contacted MP Blaine Calkins about the issue.
He urges residents to contact the 1-800-267-1177 number given in the letter to express their concerns about the changes.
He also suggests residents make sure that all incoming mail has a post office box number or it will be returned to sender.
“When purchasing items online make sure there is a post office box number or items you have paid for will be returned to sender,” he said.
Rathjen also suggests offering rides to those unable to get their parcels.
“Don’t offer to pick up parcels for them as identification must be shown. Parcel pick up is available at Lacombe Rexall until 9 p.m.”