Canada Post will soon have a new forwarding address. The mail service has announced it will move to the James Richardson International Airport.
It's a $50 million investment by the Crown Corporation, and part of a multi-billion dollar plan to improve Canada Post centres across the country.
The announcement comes after Canada Post said it will be moving from its current offices on Graham Avenue in downtown Winnipeg.
"This new plant will be a model for future development for Canada Post across the country," said spokesperson Bill Davidson. "It will enable us to give our customers the best possible service and our employees a new and efficient working environment."
A brand new facility the size of six football fields will be built on 11 hectares of land and is scheduled to open in 2010. The move will coincide with the airport's new terminal, which is also scheduled to open that same year.
Old terminal fate still in the air
The plan still leaves the fate of the current terminal up in the air. The Western Canada Aviation Museum has suggested it is interested in moving into the aging building.
The move by Canada Post means hundreds of workers will be leaving downtown Winnipeg. However, Winnipeg's Mayor said it won't turn the area into a dead letter office.
"I believe we now have an opportunity to do something special downtown," Sam Katz told CTV's Kevin Armstrong. "What that will be will depend on who buys it and what they want to develop."
Canada Post is investing almost $2 billion in its national network over the next 5 years.
It plans to keep a retail office in the existing building on Graham, as well as build a letter carrier depot at 730 Portage Ave.
With a report by CTV's Kevin Armstrong
