Lethbridge food banks adapting to uncertain Canada Post future
As a potential second Canada Post strike in less than a year looms closer, some people are turning away from the mail carriers.
'We have started to do a lot more of our bill payments, as much as we can, via e-transfers and that sort of thing,' said Valerie Lazicki, executive director of the Lethbridge Food Bank.
She says the strike in December was especially difficult for non-profits in Lethbridge.
'That time of year is the big donation spur from community members, so it was troublesome. There were cheques that were stuck in the mail.'
Get daily National news
Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
The other major food bank in Lethbridge, the Interfaith, said they were equally concerned at first, but found the mail service wasn't as necessary as they thought.
'While it did delay donations, we found that a lot of our donors adapted and found other means to give, primarily online, or people would come into the building to give us the cash right here on site,' said Danielle McIntyre, executive director of the Interfaith Food Bank.
Story continues below advertisement
For her organization, this second strike comes during the largest summer fundraiser of the year, the annual 'bakeless bake sale.' The Interfaith is hoping to raise $40,000 and McIntyre says she expects those who want to donate will do so, with or without Canada Post.
The same sentiment is echoed by Lazicki, who says once the transition is made, there is no reason to go back to paper mail.
'It's long-term. Once we switch over our suppliers to that form of payment, it's easier for them, it's easier for us.'
McIntyre says everything from newsletters to bills will be moved to paperless methods, even as their summer campaigns kick into high gear.
'We will be adapting to ensure we can still communicate with our donors regardless of Canada Post's activities.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
an hour ago
- Global News
City of Vancouver expands contract with U.S. e-scooter company
There are now more e-scooters available for rent in downtown Vancouver, however, a local company is questioning why the contract was awarded to a U.S. company. Lime, a U.S.-based company, in partnership with the City of Vancouver, added 28 new scooter parking stations in the downtown area, which brings the number of stations around the town to 98. There are 525 scooters available for rent. Stewart Lyons, CEO of rival scooter company, Bird, questions why city hall chose to partner with Lime instead of his all-Canadian company. 'There was a lot of, you know, a little bit of big talk when the whole buy Canada kind of elbows up conversation started,' Stewart Lyons, Bird CEO said. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'But it didn't really continue that for that long or that far. And that's disappointing to us. I mean, we really have to start supporting our own.' Story continues below advertisement Lyons added that if Canadians want companies to stay in Canada, they have to step up and show their support. 1:35 'Buy Canadian' city scooter challenge Vancouver Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung said they are willing to consider other options. 'When that contract comes up we would of course continue to open it up and to look at options, including Canadian suppliers, but we also need to balance that with ensuring that we get the safety and the reliability that Vancouverites deserve,' she said. Lime says more than 11,000 riders have used its service since it launched in Vancouver last September.
Global News
2 hours ago
- Global News
ArcelorMittal Long Products Canada closing wire drawing mill in Hamilton
ArcelorMittal Long Products Canada is closing its wire drawing mill in Hamilton, putting 153 employees out of work. The company said Wednesday all of the work will now be done at its Montreal location. Company chief executive Stéphane Brochu said the change is necessary to sustain its wire drawing business. 'It will allow us to improve our operational efficiency and secure our long-term competitiveness in the demanding wire drawing market,' Brochu said in a press release. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Mike Hnatjuk, president of United Steelworkers Local 5328, which represents workers at the mill, said the U.S. tariffs were 'a nail in the coffin' for the mill that was already facing challenges. U.S. President Donald Trump recently raised steel tariffs on Canada to 50 per cent. Story continues below advertisement Hnatjuk, who expects to begin talks with the company regarding a closure agreement next week, said he's been told the company plans to stop operations by the end of the month. 'We have stuff in our collective agreement that we hope that they're going to follow and they're going to offer and are we most definitely going to try to get what's best for all this,' he said. ArcelorMittal Long Products Canada has more than 2,000 employees with operations at multiple sites in Quebec. The company produces more than two million tonnes of steel that is used in such things as rebar for the construction industry and for leaf springs in light and heavy-duty trucks.
Global News
2 hours ago
- Global News
Carney names Hydro-Quebec's Michael Sabia as new top bureaucrat
Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced Michael Sabia, a longtime business leader and senior bureaucrat, as the country's new top bureaucrat starting next month. Sabia has been named Clerk of the Privy Council Office, the department that is responsible for supporting the Prime Minister's Office and which plays a central role in turning government priorities into actionable policies for bureaucrats to implement. In a statement, the role is also described one that will 'advise the Prime Minister and elected government officials in managing the country, from an objective, non-partisan, public policy perspective.' 1:28 Danielle Smith urges feds to commit to Alberta energy superpower promise Sabia is currently the president of Hydro-Quebec. He will replace John Hannaford as Clerk of the Privy Council, with Hannaford now retiring, according to the press release. Story continues below advertisement Carney referred to Hannaford's role in helping the new government to transition as being 'invaluable.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Carney said Sabia's leadership will play a 'key role' in helping Canada to become 'the strongest economy in the G7,' and added that 'Canada's exemplary public service – with Mr. Sabia at the helm – will advance nation-building projects, catalyze enormous private investment to drive growth, and deliver the change Canadians want and deserve.' Prior to his role at Hydro-Quebec, Sabia served as Canada's deputy minister of finance, director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, and held senior leadership, CEO and president roles respectively at Bell Canada Enterprises and at Canadian National Railway.
