Address change update
Last Updated on Thursday, 12 January 2012 17:35 Monday, 16 January 2012 00:00
by Lyonel Doherty
Once again, residents in Oliver and Area C are being asked not to change their mailing address until they hear from Canada Post.
If this feels like déjà vu, that’s because delivery services officer Rick Ould is saying it again, and again, and again.
“The city sent out letters to everyone not to change their address, but people either didn’t read it or didn’t understand it and started changing their addresses,” Ould said.
These actions have made it very confusing for Canada Post, he pointed out.
Tom Szalay, Oliver’s municipal manager, said the Town sent out letters to residents asking them to install their new house numbers no later than December 31, 2011. Even though the majority have not yet installed their numbers, the civic addressing system inside the municipality is now in effect, he stated.
A reminder will be sent out (as an insert) in January water bill notices.
Currently, there are dual street name plates in place, and the 911 emergency system is aware of both addresses. But reference to the old names and old numbers will be removed over the next few months, Szalay said.
“New house numbers are essential in order to provide proper direction for door-to-door deliveries as well as emergency services.”
Szalay stressed that mailing addresses will not change until Canada Post advises its customers directly. He noted this will depend on how soon the Ministry of Transportation completes street name/signage changes in the Area C (rural Oliver).
Ould said the regional district is further behind the Town because it has to coordinate efforts with the ministry and the Osoyoos Indian Band. Ould said the ministry doesn’t want to start changing street signs until the snow melts.
But Area C director Allan Patton said he’s not waiting until April to have the signs installed. “I’m asking the ministry to get going earlier than that . . . I want to get going right away.”
Patton said he has to meet with the Indian band to get its approval for the changes on the reserve.
Ould reiterated that people should not change their mailing address until they are told to do so by Canada Post. Residents should be getting a letter in the next month or two asking what their new civic address is.
Ould said the mailing address change should be complete by August.
In the meantime, local businesses have to swallow the cost of changing their signs, brochures, business cards and other print material.
Brad Jones from Okanagan Vinyl Products said he’s hoping to keep his costs under $5,000, noting he has already spent $1,100 on a new sign.
“For most businesses, by the time you change your street address and your sales letterheads, it’s not cheap.”
Jones said he’s thinking about sending his bills to the Town office. “You guys wanted the change, I didn’t. So you pay for it.”
Jones said he has spoken to other businesses that feel the new address change has been rammed down their throats.
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