Switching from rural to civic addresses here may cause more problems than first thought.
Earlier this summer councillors here had endorsed some of the changes proposed by Canada Post regarding the use of PO box addressing.
The move would align civic addresses with physical addresses.
In effect, this would change properties from a rural route assigned to a larger centre such as RR6 Guelph or RR22 Cambridge.
Those properties would end up having Puslinch as a postal address.
On Aug. 10 the matter resurfaced due to letters from local Wellington-Halton Hills MP Michael Chong’s office and Aberfoyle resident David Pietrobon.
Chong’s assistant Jim Smith wrote to council after being contacted by an Aberfoyle business owner who asked if perhaps Aberfoyle itself could be used as the town name in the address.
In the Halton region residents are allowed use of Glen Williams, Halton Hills or Georgetown as the “Town name” in their address.
Additionally Smith noted, Everton in Guelph-Eramosa is going to be able to use Everton or Guelph-Eramosa as compared to a Rockwood rural route.
Pietrobon’s comments centred on the preference of using the name Aberfoyle as the community name in an address.
“I believe that the charming character of the Village of Aberfoyle, with its iconic Mill Restaurant and pond, unique curio stores and Antique Market are best identified with the name of ‘Aberfoyle.’”
He stated “in the opinion of Real Estate agents active in the local market, the marketability and desirability of ‘Aberfoyle’ as a premium community is different to that of ‘Puslinch,’ which is more identifiable as a rural community.”
Mayor Dennis Lever commented at first it seemed like a reasonable suggestion.
Lever contacted Canada Post and stated “we need some more information on this.”
He added “I don’t believe we have enough information on this because there are other areas in the municipality which currently use their community location – such as Morriston.”
He said if residents were to have the option of using Puslinch or a community name, then council would face a more difficult choice.
While multiple options might work, he stated there may be population thresholds as to what Canada Post might allow.
Lever explained that Canada Post is going through a process of correcting civic addresses to align with postal addresses.
Currently the only property owners being contacted are those with Guelph rural route addresses.
“What isn’t clear at this point is whether all the other properties switch to Puslinch or do they keep the names being used now.
“Some people use Puslinch, some use Morriston … where I am, it’s Cambridge … but I would like to see that changed to Puslinch. And there is Moffat as well.”
Lever said “I think this is a bigger issue.
“While the suggestion seemed pretty reasonable at first, I think we need more information.”
