URGENT UPDATE: Vancouver City Councillor Pete Fry has just introduced a motion demanding the immediate reopening of a vital post office in Chinatown. The motion, presented on Wednesday, seeks to pressure Canada Post to restore services that have been critically missed since the office’s closure in November.
The closure has significantly impacted the local community, particularly vulnerable residents such as seniors and individuals with disabilities. Fry emphasized, “Residents of Chinatown in the Downtown Eastside—older people, people with disabilities, people who might not have the means to travel several kilometres to pick up their mail—are suffering from this loss.”
Canada Post shut down the Main Street post office as part of cost-saving measures described as “business decisions.” Fry criticized this move, stating, “This was a business decision from Canada Post. They’re obviously going through some new modelling, but this closure is detrimental to our community.”
Fry’s motion requests that Mayor Ken Sim reach out to federal officials and offer city-owned properties in Chinatown for a potential new post office location. “We have properties in Chinatown that are owned by the City of Vancouver that we’re actively looking to redevelop,” he noted, signaling a commitment to finding solutions.
The urgency of Fry’s request stems from the significant barriers faced by many seniors who often do not use electronic banking or have internet access. “A lot of seniors don’t necessarily use electronic banking, and they rely on mail,” Fry added. He also highlighted cultural challenges, noting that many seniors do not speak English as their first language, which complicates access to services.
The Vancouver City Council is set to debate this vital motion on Wednesday, and community members are hopeful for a positive outcome that would restore this essential service. The reopening of the post office would not only benefit individual residents but also strengthen community ties in Chinatown.
Stay tuned for updates as this story develops, and share to support the critical need for community resources!
