Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 25/02) - After two months of limited services, postal customers are finally getting some relief.

The first of two full-service postal outlets opened Monday at Shoppers Drug Mart in the Panda Mall.

"The actual construction was quite quick, but we've been preparing for this day for about two months," said Darryl Dolynny, owner of Shoppers.

A steady stream of customers was making its way to the new outlet, mostly to send off parcels.

Brenda Severtson, a trainer for Canada Post, spent the first day on hand with Shoppers employees to make sure there were no glitches.

Olive Arenga, who supervises the Shoppers outlet, said the first day wasn't, "too busy, but it's picking up. People have been phoning up and asking if we're open."

Arenga and other employees took between three and four days of training prior to the outlet's opening.

Just before Christmas, Yellowknifers fumed in line after three existing postal outlets did not have their contracts renewed.

The elimination of the three outlets resulted in 45-minute waits at the main post office downtown.

David Craig, Canada Post's area manager for the NWT and Nunavut, said another full-service outlet will open at the YK Co-op in mid-February.