Tŝideldel residents can now send and collect their mail under an address that reflects the community they call home.
The Tŝideldel First Nation officially opened its new Canada Post office on Nov. 2, bringing postal services directly into the community for the first time.
Previously, residents had to travel to the neighbouring community, Chilanto Forks, an eight-kilometre journey to collect and send their mail, where the post office only operates three days a week.
Tŝideldel’s new post office is located at 710 Redstone Flats beside the Service Centre and near the Redstone Gas Bar, right in the heart of the community.
Clayton Charleyboy, councillor for the Tŝideldel First Nation and the Executive Director of the Tŝideldel Development Corporation, told Vista Radio that having a post office under the community’s own name is something to be proud of.
“It feels like an accomplishment, for sure, and that feels good to be putting Tŝideldel on the map,” Charleyboy said. It’s just nice to have basic services for our members that are on par with other Canadians across the country.”
The idea for the post office began during renovations to the Redstone Gas Bar in 2018, when Tŝideldel Development Corporation saw an opportunity to bring postal services closer to home.
The project took six years of planning and negotiations with Canada Post. A new Service Centre was later developed at the site, providing the space needed for the postal outlet.
The Province of British Columbia supported the Service Centre through its Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program.
Charleyboy says the new postal address also gives the community greater recognition.
“It brings a sense of pride back to the community because it provided and led to civic addressing, and the identification of our whole community. Tŝideldel First Nation will be kind of on a global map, so to speak, because we have our own address.”
“We are in the Chilcotin, far away from major cities. We have been displaced a few times, and Tŝideldel is the last place we ended up, so Tŝideldel means home to me,” shared Nits’ilʔin (Chief) Guichon Sr. in a statement. “This postal outlet is better for us as we don’t have to go so far to get the mail, and I think our community members will enjoy it. I am proud of our team for what we have accomplished with Canada Post.”
In a ceremony for the post office’s opening, Chief Guichon Sr. sent the first letter out of the Tŝideldel post office, addressed to Prime Minister Mark Carney.
The existing Chilanko Forks post office will remain open to serve other surrounding communities.
The new outlet was developed through a partnership between Tŝideldel Development Corporation and Canada Post.
The community goes by the name Tŝideldel. Now, the mail will say it, too.
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