While the search goes on for a replacement Canada Post dealer at Canim Lake, a decision has been made about where to place the temporary community mailboxes.
On May 6, Canim Lake residents learned the post office in the Canim Lake General Store was closing permanently at the end of business on May 31, due to "unforeseen circumstances."
Canada Post's decision immediately raised a furor among the community members.
On May 27, Kathi Neal, Canada Post communications manager, announced a temporary community mailbox site would be erected in the Canim Lake General Store's parking lot.
"Our thinking is people are used to getting their mail there. The owner of the property has allowed us to put [the boxes] in.
"Again, it's a temporary measure as we search for a permanent solution."
Neal says Canim Lake customers will receive a letter explaining the situation, and a delivery supervisor was expected to hand out keys for the community mailbox site on Monday. For folks who didn't get them, the keys will be held at the Forest Grove Post Office, she adds.
"Anything they need, like stamps, parcels or items requiring a signature, will be available at the Forest Grove postal outlet. Smaller parcels and regular mail will be at the [Canim Lake community mailbox site]."
Meanwhile, property owner Grace Buse says the boxes arrived on May 28 and "look very nice."
Noting she was asked to e-mail her permission to have the community mailboxes on her parking lot around 11 a.m. on May 27, Buse says she is extremely happy about Canada Post's decision.
"I and the community have been protesting about keeping the mailboxes here and in the store," she says, adding this may have had something to do with the decision.
Buse says she has sent a dealership application to Canada Post, which was received on May 25, and she was told the "security forms were sent to the security department it would take approximately 10 days to process."
She notes there was a meeting at Gordon Kellett's home in Forest Grove on May 25 with Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod and Cariboo Regional District Area H Director Art Dumaresq in attendance. Buse adds McLeod indicated she would be taking the issue directly to Ottawa.
Currently, Neal says, there are some applications for a permanent dealership and Canada Post is reviewing the applications and going through process.
Noting the first step in the process is filling out an application, she explains the postal outlet has to be in a suitable and convenient location for a post office, and then there's a security process applicants have to go through with Canada Post.
"We're going through them as quickly as we can, but it may very well take until the summer until we have a permanent solution for the community."