Keep it “friendly”: Canada Post announces temporary hours for Cambridge Bay post office
“Please understand we are not operating under normal circumstances and delays are a reality,” Canada Post says
Cambridge Bay postmaster Bo Wallenius decided to quit on Monday, Dec. 14, after 11 years in the post office, saying he couldn’t endure customer rudeness anymore. (Submitted photo)
The Cambridge Bay post office reoponed this week with new staff, announced Canada Post Thursday, Dec. 17 in a news release.
The post office closed Monday, Dec. 14 after postmaster Bo Wallenius and the other full-time employee Jim Patterson quit, blaming rude customers, some of whom Wallenius said made racist comments or accused them of stealing parcels.
“We ask that you keep the post office friendly,” stated Canada Post in a news release announcing plans to restore service.
“Please understand we are not operating under normal circumstances and delays are a reality.”
Wallenius made his reasons for quitting public, by posting a sign on the post office window. It said, “Due to continued rudeness by some people, I quit. Have fun trying to get you parcels. Bo.”
“I have put up with racism and other remarks and been accused of theft, taking people’s mail and things of that nature for 11 years. I decided I had enough,” Wallenius told Nunatsiaq News on Monday evening.
Canada Post published this schedule of temporary hours:
- Tuesday, Dec. 15 to Friday, Dec. 18: 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 19 and Sunday, Dec. 20: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Monday, Dec. 21 to Wednesday, Dec. 23: 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Thursday, Dec. 24 to Monday, Dec. 28: Closed
- Tuesday, Dec. 29 and Wednesday, Dec. 30: 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Thursday, Dec. 31 and Friday, Jan. 1: Closed
I seem to remember Rankin Inlet having a similar problem not very long ago. I’m not sure exactly what happened there but I believe the entire crew quit; it was either a management issue or something similar to this. Either way the workers Rankin has now are doing a good job, so I hope the public remembers how hard they word and to treat them well!
If Canada Post cared the slightest about their employees, they would start manning their northern postal outlets with security guards.
The difference with being in a remote post, especially one without road access, is that Canada Post is the main lifeline for many drug addicts to get their fix. Weed, booze, crack, etc… all comes through the mail whether you like it or not. The sad reality is that to these addicts, a missed airplane or a late parcel is the difference between getting his fix or not. Pharmacies have security, Health center has security… The times have changed, Canada Post is now the local drug dealer, whether they know or not.
If Canada Post really care about their workers… GET SECURITY GUARDS ON SITE.
The drug and bootlegger has big belly and bushy eyebrows. He loves white powdery landscapes.