Canada Post opens new $100m facility
Canada Post Corporation has opened its new state-of-the-art mail processing plant in Winnipeg. Built at a cost of more than $100m, the facility is the company’s first new mail processing plant in more than 20 years and is a part of an overall investment of $160m in the city.
The new plant is situated on 27 acres of land near the James Armstrong Richardson Airport, replacing the 52-year-old plant in downtown Winnipeg.
The new facility houses a 250,000 square foot mail sorting plant; features 41 dock loading bays; and has 25,000 square feet of office space. When fully operational, the plant will employ 400 people from the region in well-paying, quality jobs.
In addition to housing state-of-the-art technology, the new processing facility is the company’s first plant to be registered a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building. It has been designed with special considerations for employees’ health and safety.
The new Winnipeg plant was built as part of Canada Post’s “Postal Transformation” initiative, a multi-year plan to invest $2bn in new infrastructure, equipment and technology to modernise Canada Post’s operations.
The plan, once fully implemented in 2017, will result in enhanced service for Canadians, a better, more efficient and productive postal service and substantial annual cost savings of approximately $250m per year compared to present levels.
“This mail processing plant is a critical first step to building the Modern Post,” says Rob Merrifield, minister of state (transport) and minister responsible for Canada Post. “The Government of Canada is extremely proud of Canada Post’s continued efforts to strengthen the postal system for people in every part of this country. This new plant is an example of this foresight and vision.”
“This plant is the cornerstone of Canada Post’s overall plan to strengthen its role as a leading transportation and logistics company in Canada,” says Moya Greene, president and chief executive officer for Canada Post. “The Winnipeg plant is a world-class postal facility that will serve as a model for other parts of the overall operation.”