Canada Post has pulled its employees back from mail delivery in an area of New Glasgow, N.S., citing “health and safety reasons.” Residents of Marsh Street were notified by letter of the service termination, which took effect on Aug. 28. A homeless shelter on the street is one of the addresses affected. “Canada Post advised us that the suspension relates to safety concerns involving an unhoused individual. To be clear, this individual is not a Northstar client and does not access our property,” says the Northstar shelter’s executive director Lisa Deyoung in a statement to CTV News Atlantic. She rejects any notion that Northstar or those using the shelter are to blame for Canada Post’s decision. “Any suggestion that Northstar or one of our clients is responsible for the suspension is inaccurate. We have no connection to this,” Deyoung says. New Glasgow Mayor Nancy Dicks says the shelter has created a safety issue, even if unintentional. “It’s the nature of complex social issues that our society is facing today,” she says. “I use the term ‘unintended consequences’ of the location of the shelter.” For Deyoung, pointing fingers at the shelter is part of an ongoing trend. “Unfortunately, the situation is another example of Northstar being blamed for the actions of every single community member experiencing homelessness in our community, regardless of whether they have any connection to our organization,” she says. “Blaming a shelter for broader community safety concerns is like blaming a hospital for illness in the community.” Deyoung mentions the mail disruption has consequences for some of the people in the shelter, including some waiting on income-related mail for housing access. A spokesperson for Canada Post says in a statement, “As this is an ongoing health and safety issue, the local operations team is looking to install temporary community mailboxes for residents.” Until then, those in the area are being told to pick up their mail at the Canada Post facility at 280 Stellarton Rd. “The safety of our employees is our number one priority. If there is a hazard or impediment that poses a health or safety risk to one of our delivery agents, the issue is reported to the local operations team,” says Canada Post. Brett Gray, resident of Marsh Street, says the suspended services are an inconvenience, but he understands the call. “If Canada Post has found that a mail worker can’t walk up the road for 20 minutes, what does that say about the families living here 24/7?” Gray asks. “Just the other day I watched a drug deal outside of my door. I watched a guy shoot up, I’ve watched them fight, I’ve watched them yell, punch, scream,” he says. “I’ve seen people overdosed. It’s non-stop.” Gray says he doesn’t let his 6-year-old child look out the bottom floor window of their home anymore. “I’m running out of excuses… I am running out of things to tell my 6-year-old,” he says. With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Emma Convey For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
