A busy job in nunavut capital
Maria Canton
Northern News Services
Iqaluit (Dec 11/00) - Is it possible that Iqaluit has some of the busiest delivery companies in the country?
Well, according to Arctic Express employee Jim Weir, business is almost always "non-stop."
"I'm from Newfoundland and there are a lot of towns this size there and none of them are busy like this one," said Weir, who makes several daily mail runs between the airport and the post office.
The large "cube" delivery truck rumbles empty towards the airport as Weir and his partner, Mitch Stenton, head out for the 1 p.m. mail pick-up.
"The Christmas rush is just getting started, things are getting busier," said Weir, who honks twice for First Air to open their cargo doors and let the truck in.
This afternoon they are expecting 400 pieces of mail.
After the two sign in, they lug several blue sacks of correspondence and well-packaged cardboard boxes into the back of the truck.
All are bound for the Iqaluit Post Office.
At the back door of the Post Office they meet up with two other Arctic Express employees who are leaving to distribute parcels slated for immediate delivery.
The Post Office runs a tight ship and not just anyone is allowed beyond the heavy swinging doors at the back.
Weir, however, is. After the truck is unloaded, he picks up the mail, sorted internally, for the Browne Building, where he goes at 3 p.m. to stuff apartment dwellers' mail boxes with bills, letters and other mail.
But Arctic Express certainly isn't limited to mail delivery. Weir says when they see more big buildings going up all they think about is hauling furniture into them.
"The new Nova building took about three weeks to get all of the furniture into," he said, adding that doing the mail runs eliminates most heavy lifting.
"We also do a lot of "personal effects" deliveries "which is often furniture."
The busiest delivery companies in Canada? Maybe not. The busiest delivery companies among communities of 6,000? Maybe.
