Celebrating a New Post Office in Tŝideldel, British Columbia

Tŝideldel, British Columbia, November 4, 2026 - For decades, people living in Tŝideldel have travelled to the neighbouring community of Chilanko Forks to collect their mail as their postal address carried the name of that community. Thanks to a collaboration between TŝiDelDel Development Corporation (TDC) of the Tŝideldel First Nation and Canada Post, that is changing.

As of November 2, 2026, Tŝideldel community members will be able to access postal services in their home community, with a mailing address that reflects the name of the place they have always called home: Tŝideldel.

“We are in the Chilcotin, far away from major cities. We have been displaced a few times, and Tŝideldel is the last place we ended up, so Tŝideldel means home to me,” shared Otis Guichon Sr., Nits’ilʔin (Chief) of Tŝideldel First Nation. “This postal outlet is better for us as we don’t have to go so far to get the mail and I think our community members will enjoy it. I am proud of our team for what we have accomplished with Canada Post.”

Postal service in the neighbouring community of Chilanko Forks dates back to 1907, when the post office first opened. After closing in 1918, postal service returned to Chilanko Forks in 1963 and has supported surrounding communities, including Tŝideldel. The new post office, located next to the Service Centre in Tŝideldel, gives the community the opportunity to be recognized by its own name.

“The Tŝideldel First Nation post office is about more than postal services. This building is a connection to identity, opportunity and belonging. It recognizes the strength of the people of Tŝideldel and will serve them for generations to come. Canada Post is proud to have supported the dedicated team that brought this vision to life,” shared Melissa Levesque, Manager Northern and Indigenous, Retail Network Operations, Canada Post.

The opening of the postal outlet aligns with Canada Post's Pathways of Reconciliation strategy, which includes working with Indigenous and Northern communities to improve postal services, expand access, and strengthen civic addressing through a community-by-community approach.

The idea of bringing postal services directly to Tŝideldel began during renovations to the Redstone Gas Bar in 2018. The Board of TDC saw an opportunity to bring an important service closer to home, support the community's growing commercial service centre, and reduce the need for community members to travel to Chilanko Forks to collect their mail.

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Top Row (Left to Right):

Left: The newly opened Tŝideldel Post Office in Tŝideldel, British Columbia.

Centre: Representatives from Canada Post and Tŝideldel First Nation celebrate the official opening of the Tŝideldel Post Office.

Back row, left to right (Canada Post): Dana Dumore, Retail Network Manager; John Smith, Local Area Superintendent; Candice Laidlow, Local Area Manager; Harjot (Joyti) Dhaliwal, Retail Network Officer; and Kevin Ned, Northern and Indigenous Government Affairs.

Front row, left to right: Bruce Baptiste, Elected Councillor, Tŝideldel First Nation; Clayton Charleyboy, Elected Councillor, Tŝideldel First Nation and Executive Director, TŝiDelDel Development Corporation; Otis Guichon Sr., Nits’ilʔin (Chief), Tŝideldel First Nation; and Percy Guichon, CEO of CCR and Elected Councillor, Tŝideldel First Nation.

Right: The ceremonial first letter from Chief Otis Guichon Sr. to Prime Minister Mark Carney, alongside Canada Post Truth and Reconciliation stamps.

Bottom Row (Left to Right):

Left: Chief Otis Guichon Sr. signs the ceremonial first letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, to be mailed from the newly opened Tŝideldel Post Office.

Centre: Clayton Charleyboy, Elder Mary, Elder John, Elder Edna and Chief Otis Guichon Sr. participate in the official ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Right: Clayton Charleyboy, John Smith, Chief Otis Guichon Sr., Kevin Ned and Harjot (Joyti) Dhaliwal following the official opening of the Tŝideldel Post Office.

Photo Credit: Tiffany Christianson Photography

Clayton Charleyboy, Elected Councillor with Tŝideldel First Nation and Executive Director of TDC, helped champion the initiative and worked alongside others to advance the project over several years. What began as an effort to improve access to an essential service grew into a broader opportunity to have the community officially recognized by its own name in its postal address.

In 2024, TDC moved ahead with the new Service Centre at Redstone Gas Bar. The development added office and community-service space and created the permanent infrastructure needed for postal operations. The Province of British Columbia supported the Service Centre through the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program.

With the facility completed, Canada Post and TDC were able to move forward with establishing the new postal service.

“To me, I'm very proud of that achievement, for the community to be involved in bringing Canada Post to Tŝideldel. It puts us on the map!” said Charleyboy. “We're moving forward for our members and our community. We're continuously building and improving upon things, and we want to keep that momentum going.”

The Tŝideldel Post Office officially opened on Monday, November 2, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at 710 Redstone Flats, Tŝideldel, British Columbia. Community members, representatives from Canada Post, and other guests gathered to celebrate the opening and welcome postal services to their new community. The opening marks an important milestone for Tŝideldel, bringing an essential service closer to home while recognizing the community's identity through an address that carries its own name.

The community goes by the name Tŝideldel. Now, the mail will say it too.  

Watch a special commemorative video: Click Here

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For an Interview with TŝiDelDel Development Corporation, contact:

Aleece Laird, Communications Liaison, aleece@amplifyinc.ca | 250.574.0221

About Tŝideldel First Nation

Tŝideldel First Nation is a Tŝilhqot’in community located approximately 188 kilometres west of Williams Lake along Highway 20. The people of Tŝideldel are the Nenqayni Deni, meaning “First Nations People,” and maintain a strong connection to their land, language, culture and traditional ways of life. The name Tŝideldel means “red stone,” reflecting the distinctive red rock found at the east end of the community. The Nation is focused on self-determination, community well-being and creating opportunities for current and future generations. Learn more: www.tsideldel.org | Facebook

About TŝiDelDel Development Corporation

TŝiDelDel Development Corporation (TDC) is the economic development arm of Tŝideldel First Nation, focused on creating sustainable economic opportunities that benefit the community and future generations. Guided by Indigenous values, TDC advances initiatives in forestry, land stewardship, infrastructure, and business development. Through collaboration and responsible development, TDC supports local employment, strengthens community capacity, and contributes to the long-term prosperity of Tŝideldel First Nation. Learn more: www.tsideldelcorp.ca | LinkedIn | Facebook | X | YouTube