Connie Black-Sturby, the Canada Post postmaster in Love, said that she was really excited because this is her first year as postmaster.
People from many countries are sending their Valentines Day cards and letters through Love, said Black-Sturby.
“I never know what country I’m going see when I come to work. It’s really cool,” explained Black-Sturby.
“Everything that comes through here is cancelled with the teddy bear holding a heart,” said Black-Sturby.
Black-Sturby said that most of the mail being sent to Love is from overseas.
“The majority comes from China and Japan. I’d have to say at least between 75 and 80 per cent,” said Black-Sturby.
In the last two years they have received mail from almost a dozen countries. Black-Sturby said they have received mail from China, Hong Kong, Hungary, Japan, Singapore, the UK, and across Canada and the United States.
Anick Losier, a Canada Post spokesperson, said that Canada Post has been issuing the cancel for quite sometime.
“We’ve been doing the cancels since 1994, so almost 20 years,” said Losier.
“The postmaster at the time, Pauline McKinnon, had designed the special cancel. She knew how special Love, Sask., was and she was seeing an increase of mail at that time of year, so she designed one, (and) we (Canada Post) made it happen, and we’ve been doing it every year since.” - Anick Losier, a Canada Post spokesperson
Losier explained that the cancel started in 1994 by Pauline McKinnon.
“The postmaster at the time, Pauline McKinnon, had designed the special cancel. She knew how special Love, Sask., was and she was seeing an increase of mail at that time of year, so she designed one, (and) we (Canada Post) made it happen, and we’ve been doing it every year since.”
Losier said that only two post offices in Canada would be offering the special service.
“Only Love, Sask., and a community in Quebec called St-Valentin, which means St. Valentines Day, will be issuing the cancel,” explained Losier.
Losier noted that the two cancels the communities used are both different.
Losier said that if anyone would like to have the special cancel, put your mail, with another stamp or money, into a larger envelope and send it to the post office in Love.
The envelope will be opened in Love, and the mail inside will be cancelled and sent to the destination.
derek.cornet@paherald.sk.ca
