Residents are concerned about sporadic mail deliveries in rural Richmond County

Some people in rural parts of Richmond County in Nova Scotia are frustrated by sporadic mail deliveries.

Canada Post says a driver retired weeks ago and finding a replacement has been challenging. But residents are concerned the problem could signal further erosion of rural services.

Judy Morrison, who lives on a dirt road in Grand River Falls, about a 25-minute drive from the nearest post office in Lower L’Ardoise, said she used to have daily mail delivery, but stopped for the past month.

“It’s not good at all,” she said. “I’m 54 years old since I started [living] here and this is the first time we’ve had a mess.”

Morrison said it is inconvenient for most people to drive to the post office every day to check for mail and that the county roads are not well maintained.

“I hope this gets resolved soon because it’s very frustrating and many of us here are seniors and we need concrete answers about what’s going to happen,” she said.

The Grand River area used to have a school, two stores, two churches and a post office, Morrison said, but some families have recently moved there.

“All we have left is mail and one church, so it looks like we’re losing more than we’re gaining.”

Deputy Warden Brent Sampson, who represents the district for Richmond County, said residents have called him to complain about the mail, and some are concerned that mail deliveries are being cut on purpose.

“People are sometimes very concerned, especially in a rural area, that if the service is cut, all of a sudden it won’t be reinstated,” he said.

Sampson said the affected rural route runs northeast to Grand River Falls and east to the Saint Esprit area, up to a 30-minute drive from the post office in Lower L’Ardoise.

A driver from another route is temporarily covering the area and Canada Post has indicated a permanent replacement is on the way, he said.

The mail “arrives a little later than people expect, but given the situation, it was a big plus that the mail is still being delivered,” Sampson said.

“One of the bigger problems was people having to go pick up mail from the post office. If they didn’t have a PO box, you had to be there during business hours.”

Morrison said Canada Post should have communicated better with residents about what is happening. As for the fact that a permanent replacement driver was hired, she reserves her judgment.

“I won’t believe it until I see it,” said Morrison. “We thought we had someone from July 10 and apparently we don’t anymore, so it’s just a daily thing.”

In an email, a Canada Post spokesperson said the search for a new driver was difficult, but a new employee has been hired and will start in just over a week.

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