A small but historic post office, inside the Steveston Museum building on Moncton Street, is in peril of closing this May after operator Tourism Richmond decided to pull up its stakes and focus solely on the visitor centre.
And as it stands, taxpayers will be asked to prop up the postal operation while a new business model is crafted.
A contract with Canada Post to operate the post office is held by the Steveston Historical Society, which then subcontracted to Tourism Richmond to April 30.
But Tourism Richmond CEO Bruce Okabe says operating a post office is not part of his organization’s mandate, hence he has given the society notice that Tourism Richmond will no longer provide postal staff.
Society president Linda Barnes says about $50,000 is needed by the society to start anew, including creating a retail enterprise that should offset future operating costs.
To date, Barnes said Tourism Richmond and the City of Richmond have offered $10,000 each. Barnes, a former long-time city councillor, expects the society to make a pitch to city council soon.
Barnes said the postal services break even, roughly, but the staff are additional costs. To date, Tourism Richmond has sold Steveston-related merchandise at the post office.
The News asked Okabe if his decision was based on lower sales revenue from the exiting of Once Upon a Time filming in the village. He said it was not and reiterated the decision was largely based on the mandate.
Barnes views the working post office as an important “heritage hub” in Steveston. The post office started operating out of the museum building in 1979, when the society took over its operations. The post office at this location is a legacy of Steveston’s first post office in the village.
“We celebrated the 125th birthday of the post office in 2015. It’s been in Steveston, not necessarily at that site, for 127 years now,” said Barnes.
“Having a post office allowed us to become a township. That’s where Steveston is tied to this post office. There is another outlet (Super Grocer) but as far as the historic significance goes this is the important one.
“If this post office closes down I believe we lose that historic focal point.
“And it’s a service to the community. Numerous seniors use the post office,” said Barnes.
The Steveston Museum building was erected in 1905 and first operated as a bank.
The visitor centre will remain open seven days a week.
