Canada Post Confirms Oversight Change
- kc dyer
- Aug 15
- 3 min read
Residents redirected to West Van postal outlet
All Lions Bay post box holders need to renew the lease on their boxes annually, says a Canada Post representative, but you will no longer have to travel to Garibaldi Highlands to do so.
Cliffin Cleetus, Superintendent for Canada Post's Sea to Sky region, says a letter is going out to Lions Bay post box holders this week announcing the oversight of postal issues in the Village will move to the Canada Post location at 1427 Bellevue Avenue in West Vancouver, as of September 2.
This letter will supersede the notice delivered to residents two weeks ago, requiring post box renewals be made in a post office location in Squamish.
Cleetus confirms that until August 22, residents who would like to renew their post boxes can do so at the Garibaldi Highlands postal outlet located at 1900 Garibaldi Way, next to the London Drugs and the Independent Grocer in Garibaldi Highlands.
Cleetus says the period between August 22 and September 2 will be used by Canada Post to transition services from one location to the other. "I've asked that no post boxes be closed at this time," he told The Watershed on Thursday.
Large parcel pickup for local residents will continue uninterrupted at the Caulfeild branch of Canada Post, located in the Pharmasave in West Vancouver.
Pharmasave postal manager Hamid Osmanzai says that his outlet continues to welcome large parcel pick-up from Lions Bay locals, but that his location doesn't have the staffing capacity to take on associated maintenance such as lost keys, broken locks and post box renewals.
Cleetus, who oversees Canada Post services from Bowen Island to Mount Currie, reminds Lions Bay residents that every homeowner is entitled to a free post box, but all are required to renew their lease annually. Anyone who wants to have a second (or subsequent) box, called 'convenience boxes' by Canada Post, must pay for the lease.
Beginning in September, home owners who have a rental suite may either lease a post box for their tenants, or direct their tenants to the Bellevue Avenue location, where staff will sort out leasing them a postal box in Lions Bay, subject to availability.
While standard delivery has remained largely unaffected since the Lions Bay Post Office abruptly closed in April, confusion has swirled around the collection of parcels and the provision of postal services. Residents were initially sent to Squamish for parcel pick-up, before being re-directed to the Pharmasave in Caulfeild Village.
A Canada Post representative at the Garibaldi Highlands post office said that "almost all" of the post boxes in Lions Bay have either expired or are about to. After the letter went out last week, postal staff at that location have been inundated with phone calls from concerned residents, wanting to retain their postal addresses, and ensure uninterrupted delivery.
Residents renewing their postal box must show identification that provides proof of both box number and street address. Cleetus suggests bringing along a printed copy of a phone bill or BC Hydro bill, as well as picture ID.
Cleetus says that the oversight of Lions Bay postal services by the Bellevue Avenue location of Canada Post will continue for the foreseeable future.
Post office Hours:
Garibaldi Highlands PO, 1900 Garibaldi Way, Squamish
Monday to Friday: 8:30 to 5 p.m., Saturday: 8:30 to 2 p.m., closed Sunday
Bellevue PO, 1427 Bellevue Avenue, W Van
Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Saturday and Sunday
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I have to assume that the recent article in The Watershed about this confusing situation was a significant factor in Canada Post making this change. Thank you K.C. for your support of our community.
This inconvenience now being borne by all residents of the Village could have been avoided if the Lions Bay General Store had not decided to stop providing postal service..