Residents of a Cranbrook, BC nursing home say they are frustrated by delays in receiving their mail due to what may be one or more unvaccinated Canada Post workers.
On October 25, residents of Joseph Creek Village, a home operated by Golden Life Management, received a letter saying the non-delivery was based on the PHO’s mandate that all visitors be vaccinated.
It has been two weeks since resident Gus Meshwa received a letter and said he is “not very happy.”
“All of a sudden they want to cut it off,” he said, adding that he’s not sure why the mail stopped arriving.
“We are trying to fight a little to recover the service … It is very inconvenient.”
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Public health officials in BC I have ordered that all visitors to nursing homes across the province are fully immunized against COVID-19, with the exception of residents who are not eligible.
According to the October 25 letter shared with Global News, Golden Life Management has attempted to work with Canada Post to resolve the delays, “but Canada Post has not been willing to commit or work with GLM’s management team to find a solution. adequate “.
The letter says that Canada Post has informed Golden Life that it will not deliver mail at Joseph Creek Village, but residents can pick up their mail at the local post office or fill out a form so someone else can do it on their behalf.
It’s a problem for residents like Meshwa, who uses a wheelchair, and said “the family can’t always come and help when they need it.”
Golden Life has now involved the local Member of Parliament in the stalemate, according to a statement to Global News.
“Canada Post has refused to deliver mail to various locations because they cannot comply with the Provincial Health Order,” wrote the company’s vice president, Celeste Mullin.
“Golden Life is working with our local MP and Canada Post to find a solution that ensures Long Term Care and Assisted Living residents continue to receive postal services.”
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In its own statement, Canada Post did not address claims about an unvaccinated postal worker.
“We have investigated this situation and can confirm that we are in contact with our client to resolve this issue and have offered them an alternative temporary solution to receive their mail,” wrote spokeswoman Nicole Lecompte.
“We continue to look for a permanent solution for mail delivery. We apologize to our customers and thank them for their understanding as we work to resolve this issue during these difficult times. “
Ninety-year-old resident Evelyn Roussy said she is frustrated by the lack of service.
“I would like the delivery to be restored. The PO boxes are here. They are just sitting there inactive. Why were they installed in the first place if they weren’t going to use them? ” she asked.
“That’s all we want, it’s our mail delivery.”
Ida Aitzetmueller called it “just awful.”
“What happened to the rain, sleet or snow, did the mail arrive?” She wondered.
“We are all in our 80s and 90s, and now that winter is coming, should we go to the main office to pick up our mail? It’s just unreal. “
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Canada Post’s main office in Cranbrook is about two miles from Joseph Creek Village.
Aitzetmueller said it is the job of the Canada Post and the job of Golden Life Management to find a solution that does not place the responsibility of picking up residents and their families.
“They must have a heart. Now we are old in wheelchairs and walkers and they expect us to go there? It’s just not right. “
He is concerned about how “annoying” it will be for residents if they do not receive a Christmas card.
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Reference-globalnews.ca