VANCOUVER, B.C. — Vancouver City Council has unanimously approved a motion brought forward by Green Councillor Pete Fry calling on Canada Post and senior governments to restore full postal services in Vancouver’s historic Chinatown following the abrupt closure of the neighbourhood’s long-standing post office at 418 Main Street.

The motion, Don’t let Chinatown’s Postal Service be Stamped Out, responds to widespread community concern about the loss of a vital, in-person service relied on by seniors, small businesses, low-income residents, and people with limited mobility or digital access.

“For many people in Chinatown, the post office isn’t a convenience. It’s a lifeline,” said Councillor Fry. “Losing it without a replacement undermines the City’s commitments to uplift Chinatown and support people aging and living in community.”

A Core Community Service, Lost Without Replacement

The Chinatown Post Office permanently closed on November 12 after Canada Post chose not to renew or replace the privately operated franchise. Many local residents do not have secure mail receptacles, meaning they are now required to travel significant distances, as far as Granville Street or Commercial Drive, to retrieve mail and parcels.

“These are not reasonable alternatives for vulnerable folk in the community, seniors, people with disabilities, or small businesses already operating on thin margins,” Fry said. “Essential services need to exist where people live.”

Aligning Action With the City’s Commitments to Chinatown

Council’s decision reinforces the goals of the City’s Uplifting Chinatown strategy, which identified community supports and service continuity as key pillars for maintaining the neighbourhood’s cultural, social, and economic vitality.

As approved, the motion:

• Formally expresses Council’s support for a full-service post office in Chinatown;
• Requests that the Mayor write to senior Canada Post leadership and the federal minister responsible, urging restoration and enhancement of postal services; and
• Directs staff to explore the use of City-owned space in Chinatown for potential postal or co-located community services as part of current and future civic asset planning.

“Chinatown is a designated historic and cultural neighbourhood,” said Fry. “Protecting essential services is part of protecting its future.”

A Unanimous Signal to Act

Council’s unanimous vote sends a clear message that maintaining accessible, community-serving infrastructure is a shared priority.

“This is about dignity, accessibility, and follow-through,” Fry added. “Council has spoken with one voice. Now it’s time for Canada Post and senior governments to step up.”

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