70 Mile House has a new Postmaster, and Lisa Schramm said living and working in 70 Mile is a dream come true.
Before coming to 70 Mile House, she worked as a Residential Care Aide in Coquitlam. She moved to 70 Mile in May 2016 and took care of her ailing father until he passed away.
She also provided Residential Care Aide in the area until she started working for Canada Post.
Schramm, who had been living in 70 Mile House for three years, was picking up her mail at the 70 Mile Post Office when she noticed a job posting on the window.
“I went into the office and made some inquiries.”
After some careful consideration, Schramm said she thought working at the Post Office would be a perfect opportunity for a career change and decided to go online and apply.
When she was called to work at the 70 Mile Post Office, it was as an acting Postmaster.
Schramm added she first started work for Canada Post as a Term (casual/on call) employee in 70 Mile House.
Shortly after being hired as a Term employee at the 70 Mile Post Office, Schramm was asked to do shifts at the Lone Butte Post Office. She also worked at the Valemount and Clinton Post Offices covering different roles.
She was hired as the 70 Mile Postmaster on Nov. 24 and officially started on Dec. 3, 2023.
However, she had been working as acting Postmaster since Oct. 26 when her predecessor Ken Huber retired.
Schramm has a lot of duties as the 70 Mile Postmaster including sorting mail and parcels for the 70 Mile Post Office and for the Rural Suburban Mail Carrier (RSMC), delivering mail to the Post Office mailboxes, prepping parcels for pick up, sales of merchandise, providing services such as processing parcels for delivery, mail forwarding and hold mail services, money orders and money grams, welcoming new residents to the community and helping them set up their new mailbox and much more.
When asked how she liked living at 70 Mile House, she answered: “As a young girl, I visited 70 Mile House and fell in love instantly. I just knew that this was where I wanted to spend my life.
“It may have taken 40 years, but dreams really do come true with hard work and dedication. I’m very happy with my life, my job and where I live, and wouldn’t change a thing.”
Post Office operations
The 70 Mile Post Office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., (closed for lunch from 12 to 1 p.m.) and open from 1 to 5 p.m.
The Post Office has two mail-drop boxes. One is located on the outside of the building near the front entrance and the other one is in the lobby area. Both are clearly marked, Schramm adds.
“You may drop your mail in a drop box or come into the lobby and drop it off on the counter and hear about some of Canada Post’s newest products like the Extra Small Flat Rate Box – a new and exciting addition to the Canada Post family.
“Canada Post sells a wide variety of packaging products for your parcels, such as boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, and more, and I would be happy to assist you in finding the perfect packaging product and the best shipping option that fits your needs.”
Natural Gas work
Enbridge will be doing borehole testing on its right-of-way near North Bonaparte Road. The work will start on Feb. 12 and will last seven to 10 days.
There may be some minor delays in letting the quaders and/or sledders get through the work area to the other trails.
70 Mile Events
Group events in 70 Mile House are on the rise again as the flu bug attack has settled down.
Pancake breakfasts
70 Mile Community Club chair Ken Huber said the popular by-donation Pancake Breakfasts are back up and running at the Community Hall on the first Saturday of each month.
He added if there are enough volunteers to help with the cooking, French toast will also be available.
The breakfasts run from 9 to 11 a.m. There will be door prizes.
Community Dinner
There will be a 70 Mile Community Dinner at the Community Hall on Feb. 10.
It is a make-up dinner for the Christmas Dinner that had to be cancelled because of the flu outbreak in 70 Mile House in December.
It’s not a potluck dinner and is free for 70 Mile House residents only.
There are 100 tickets available and residents will have to pre-register with April Huber at 604-852-7622 to reserve a seat.
Community Club AGM
The 70 Mile Community Club is having its Annual General Meeting in the Community Hall on Feb. 24, starting at 3:30 p.m.
Chair Ken Huber said anyone can come to the meeting, but only club members can vote.
People will be able to join the club at the door when they buy a $25 membership when they enter the hall.
Coffee’s On
This social event, which started at the Seventy Mile Access Centre (SMAC), is up and running again at the Community Hall.
It’s an opportunity for people to get together to socialize on Tuesdays, starting at 11 a.m.
Anyone can come to the event to talk to or visit old friends and meet new friends. Lunch: soup, buns, coffee and goodies, which people bring to the event, are available free of charge.
People who want to support the event can donate if they want, but it’s not a necessity to attend the event.
On Feb. 13, there will be a Volunteers Appreciation event during the Coffee’s On event. The potluck starts at 11 a.m.
There will also be a Coffee’s On event on Feb. 20, starting at 11 a.m.
Poker Fundraiser
A Texas Hold’em Poker Fundraiser will be held at the 70 Mile Community Hall on Feb. 17. The fundraiser event happens on the third Saturday of every month.
Doors open at 10:30 a.m. for the monthly event at the hall. There is a $30 buy-in, which includes a lunch.
If you need more information, call Dennis Huber at 250-456-6050.
Eddy’s hosts fun events
Eddy’s Bar and Grill has some fun events coming up, including Trivia on Feb. 15 and 29, starting at 5:30 p.m.
Teams of up to six people are allowed to compete together. Everyone is welcome to join this free event.
There will be Meat Draws on Feb. 11 and 25 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
The popular Paint Nite will be on Feb. 10 from 2 to 4 p.m. The cost is $40 and paint supplies are included in the cost.
Participants will get step-by-step instructions on how to paint a truck photo.
Contact ecanvasgagnon@gmail.com for inquiries and reservations.
Eddy’s has pool tournaments every Wednesday starting at 6 p.m.
There is a $5 entry for the Double Knockout Vegas rules event.
Everyone is welcome.
Ken’s memories
I was staying at my grandparents’ place for the weekend when I was 13 years old.
I was reading a book in the living room - something my grandparents insisted I do when I stayed over. They would pick the book, and I would have to answer questions they would throw at me after dinner.
It was fun when I answered the questions correctly, but I would have to take the garbage out if I answered incorrectly or if I didn’t have a clue what the answer might be.
For the first time ever, I heard them arguing (or as grandma called it a slight difference of opinion) in the kitchen while I was looking in the book for correct answers to the ones I had missed.
I heard grandpa say “OK, I’ll take the garbage out!” as he went out the back door and the screen slammed shut after him.
Immediately, grandma came over to where I was reading the book. She put one finger to her lips, which meant I was going to hear a secret. Then she winked at me, which meant it was going to be funny.
She apologized to me for having to hear them arguing. I winked at her and shrugged my shoulders.
She said they were arguing about the flower planted in the garden and grandpa had told her she should embrace her mistakes. Then she winked at me again and put her finger to her lips and said, “So, I gave him a big hug and then he walked outside and slammed the screen door.”
We both had a good laugh about it.