The weather was beautiful on Friday, Oct. 18, for the launch of Canada Post’s “awareness campaign” to engage with area communities as part of Canada Post’s first National Road Safety Month.
“We all have a role to play in keeping ourselves, our colleagues, and communities safe,” said Rob Klarich, local area Superintendent of Operations for Canada Post, who joined with four Canada Post employees from the area in promoting the awareness campaign to the public.
“We set up our tent event display at a CMB site on Agate Bay Road with a very generous pullout area, to allow the public to stop safely,” said Klarich, “We had great visibility to the traffic on both sides, and we politely greeted oncoming traffic made up of members of the local community, logging trucks, and some commercial vehicles.”
Klarich added the group had great feedback from community members who stopped for a coffee and a donut, and they enjoyed sharing some corporate giveaway items as well. Some drivers took the opportunity to stop, and others “gave a friendly wave and/or sign of support by honking their horn.”
The roadside awareness campaign was to promote October as National Safe Driving Month and to share Canada Post’s vision of a stronger Canada delivered to rural communities, share the road, and awareness to the public of Canada Post delivery agents who service the community.
Canada Post delivery agents are out and about Monday to Friday and are visible by their vehicle flashing light and rooftop ‘Delivery Vehicle’ signage while driving, or when stopped to deliver mail at a community box site or rural mail box.
“The message is, Make It Safe, Make It Home, and A Stronger Canada Delivered,” said Klarich.
”Our commitment is the delivery to our rural communities and to provide the best service possible, but we also ask for public support to respect the road and keep safety first for our delivery agents, and all other users of the road.
”Everyone was open and understanding to our message and also shared their concerns on road safety in that corridor, a dialogue we believe going forward should be continued with all stakeholders in the community.”
Other points of interest discussed were certain areas of the Agate Bay Road where there are blind corners and evidence of overgrowth (trees/branches/shrubs) which are blocking signs or intruding onto the shoulder of the road which makes the route more challenging for driver visibility.