Local residents will soon have one less place to send and receive parcels, buy stamps or mail a letter.
Canada Post announced this week it's closing the retail portion of the Ladner post office on the corner of Delta Street and 48th Avenue. The building will, however, still act as a letter carrier depot.
The announcement was made after Canada Post conducted a 30day public consultation period.
Canada Post spokesperson Anick Losier said it has had to close other locations across the country due to a change in how people use the service. Customers are increasingly choosing to communicate electronically while stamps and many other products can be purchased online.
"I think it's no secret that people aren't using the post office the same way anymore," she said, adding Canada Post is seeing two million fewer letters a day compared to last year. "We're just trying to be as efficient as possible," Losier said.
The retail portion of the Ladner location, which has been around for about 50 years, will remain open until April 26. After that, Pharmasave will be home to the only post office in Ladner.
"It is a sad day for the people of Ladner and the postal workers that live and work in Ladner," said Stephen Gale, president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers Fraser
The closure will affect two employees, both of whom have more than 25 years with Canada Post and live in Ladner.
Losier said the employees have job security and under the collective agreement cannot be moved to a location more than 40 kilometres away.
Gale said the union is unsure at this point of where the two employees will end up.
"This is not a happy day for us."
