Canada Post is returning to a familiar location in downtown Battleford.
According to Mayor Ames Leslie of Battleford, it is expected Canada Post will be resuming operations in the building by Christmas of this year, if not sooner.
Mayor Leslie confirmed Wednesday morning that the old post office building on 22nd Street in Battleford has been sold to Fieldstone Holdings Corp., led by Jesse Crozier and Cassandra Germsheid, who will be renovating it to Canada Post's needs with a goal of having them back in service before Christmas.
Leslie says he is excited about the prospect of Canada Post returning to downtown Battleford. It's something council wanted to happen, he says, and he welcomes the purchasers of the original post office building as the town's newest downtown developers.
“It’s an honour to be the new steward of this rich piece of history. We are also excited for Canada Post to be coming back downtown," says Crozier. "From the beginning of the purchase process, making it the 'post office' again was our goal."
Germsheid says, "I grew up only a few blocks away from the post office and, to me, it has always been the heart of Battleford. We're very happy to bring people back downtown, especially the seniors and local residents who have missed being able to walk to get their mail."
The deal resolves two years of drama surrounding the future of both the downtown post office building, as well as Canada Post’s own operations in Battleford.
Canada Post had left the downtown location in the fall of 2015 due to safety issues, and has been housed at a temporary location on 35th Street in Battleford, operating out of a number of trailers that have been set up there.
Crozier and Germsheid say they are committed to bringing the old post office building back to life, and have plans to eventually rehabilitate the second and third floors, which have been vacant for decades.
“We have four children, and we want to pass on to them the importance of preserving our history. Unless our historic buildings are maintained and kept in use, our architectural heritage could be lost, along with the history it represents. We want our kids to grow up to understand the importance of preserving our community's foundations."
In addition to being the principals of Fieldstone Holdings Corporation, Crozier and Germsheid own rental properties in the communities of Battleford, Biggar and Cochin and have recently established a family enterprise with Germshied’s parents through the purchase of a long time North Battleford business, Kerr’s Cleaners.
Crozier first came to Battleford to work with his father as part of Straight Line Builders Inc, about a decade ago. As a site manager with Straight Line, Crozier is experienced in renovations, new builds and historic restoration as well as certified in asbestos and mold abatement.
Germsheid grew up in Battleford and still lives there today. She has been a work at home mom involved in website development and marketing and currently serves as financial officer for their rental and dry cleaning businesses as well as co-director of Fieldstone Holdings Corporation.
Already, some renovations and repairs have happened at the downtown location. The most notable is that the clock tower, which had not been functioning for about 20 years, is now being repaired and will soon be back up and running again.
In a statement this week, Canada Post confirmed the building on 22nd Street had been sold and that they will offer retail operations at that location once renovations are complete.
Canada Post adds that in the meantime they will continue to offer postal services to the residents of Battleford at their temporary location on 35th Street West.
