Canada Post Shutters Victoria West Outlet; Owner Demands Answers

UPDATE: Canada Post has officially closed its outlet within the Pharmasave at 180 Wilson Street in Victoria West, leaving owner Alex Akhavan searching for answers. This closure is part of a larger restructuring effort, with four locations in the Greater Victoria area shut down as the corporation grapples with a staggering loss exceeding $1 billion this year.

Akhavan expressed his frustration, questioning, “Why are you closing this office, when these outlets are revenue-generating enterprises?” His Pharmasave is not alone; closures also hit two Heart Pharmacies located at 3825 Cadboro Bay Road and 1595 Fairfield Road, along with another at 5166 Cordova Bay Road.

The move comes after Canada Post announced that it is “effectively insolvent” and must reduce costs, raising concerns for local businesses and communities reliant on these services. Akhavan has been a staunch advocate for transparency, stating, “It’s never been from day one about our business, it’s been about transparency.”

Despite the closure, Akhavan maintains that his outlet was financially viable, with operating costs around $300,000 annually covering rent, salaries, and infrastructure expenses. He purchases Canada Post products directly, receiving a service fee of approximately $20,000 each year in return.

Local foot traffic provided significant value to his business, with Akhavan noting, “Most of the time these are break-even enterprises.” He has filed an information request with Canada Post to understand the rationale behind the closure, but reports receiving limited information—just three lines of a spreadsheet detailing the expiration date of his contract.

In response, Canada Post stated, “All our retail operations and business decisions go through an extensive review process to evaluate our retail postal outlet network and customer needs.” However, Akhavan is unconvinced, having forwarded a complaint to the Office of the Information Commissioner.

The Pharmasave location will continue to serve as an access point for UPS and Puralator mail, but Akhavan’s confidence in Canada Post has diminished. He is currently exploring other retail opportunities for the space.

This situation unfolds as residents of Victoria West and local businesses are left to navigate the impacts of these closures, raising urgent questions about the future of postal services in the area. As developments continue, Akhavan’s fight for answers highlights the broader implications of corporate restructuring on local communities.

Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.