Home Pt. 2: Bills Corner Grocery

EvilGentleman: 27th Jun 2006 - 00:38 GMT

Sorry to disagree, Chris, but post offices are still allowed in stores. Most Arctic communities have their Canada Post franchises located within general stores. When I first moved to Coral Harbour, Nunavut in 1992, the post office was located in a stand-alone building that was in danger of falling down. By the end of the year, the Coral Harbour Co-op finished building their new store, which also included a post office. I later worked there as the postmaster. As far as I know, the post office is still there.

In 1999, I moved to Kangirsujuaq, in the Nunavik region of Quebec. Their post office was also located in the local Co-op store, and still is.

My hometown of Kahnawake has its post office located in its own premises in a business complex across the hall from the local credit union.

My current post office here in Dorval is located in the back of the Exstase gift shop at the Dorval Gardens Shopping Center a few blocks from here. Although my mail is tossed through the mail slot in my front door, I have to go to the gift shop to pick up parcels or registered mail, if I was not home when the mailman passed by. I also go there to weigh and send my parcels.

Chris Erb: 27th Jun 2006 - 01:16 GMT

Hmmm, that throws a wrench in eeverything. I just remember being told that they were moving because he wasn't allowed to have the post office in the store anymore. Maybe the owner of the store isn't allowed to be the postmaster too so he gave up the store to keep the post office. That seems like a reasonable explanation.

Next time I'm in Sussex, I'll talk to the post master and see what he says about it. I'm assuming he's still around so he'll be able to tell me exactly what happened.

Rumours fly around and change so fast in that town you never know what to believe.

EvilGentleman: 27th Jun 2006 - 02:07 GMT

Maybe there is some product that was being sold in the store that is not compatible with owning a Canada Post franchise, or perhaps there was some structural, security or square footage issue with the original store that caused the building to be deemed unsuitable for a franchise.

As far as being able to own both a postal franchise and a business, I doubt that would be a problem. I used to supervise a staff of 20 store workers (although usually no more than 12 of them were working at once) from behind the counter of the Post Office.

You never know, though. It could have been something as simple as the expiration of a contract, or some silly little rule that Canada Post changed that made his original store unsuitable. Or maybe he just got tired of dealing with the store, but really liked the Post Office.

Whatever the reason, it would be quite interesting to hear the real story. I admit, I am both intrigued and puzzled. Nice post, by the way. And the pun in the previous sentence was not intentional, but it seems to fit.

Chris Erb: 28th Jun 2006 - 03:09 GMT

Any explanation seems to fit. I'll make sure I find out either next time I'm in Sussex or I'll get my mom to find out for me next time I'm talking to her.