Powell River’s first letter carrier honoured by his own letter-carrier, 61 years later

BY PIETA WOOLLEY

If you walk into the Post office at Joyce and Alberni, you’ll see a short-brimmed wool felt hat hanging above a black and white photo of a handsome young postal worker.

His name was Angelo Bella – Powell River’s first letter-carrier – and he passed away on Feb. 15 of this year. On Nov. 3, a group of current postal workers, and Angelo’s family and neighbours, came to the Post Office for a short ceremony honouring his role in the community, and unveiling of the hat and photo. The event was organized by Bruce McCrae, Angelo’s letter carrier.

A derby postal hat and historical photo of Angelo Bella now hang in the main Post Office.

“My father was lucky to have you [Bruce] as his postman,” said Alesa Maxwell, Angelo’s daughter (who was visiting from Denmark), during the ceremony.

“This is one special postie!” said Eva Bella, Angelo’s widow, as she embraced Bruce.

DAPPER MEMORIAL: Widow Eva Bella and her neighbour attended a ceremony at the Post Office, organized by Postal Worker Bruce McCrae.

Before 1961, residents had to come to the Post Office to pick up their mail. Door-to-door delivery began here that year, with Angelo. His route wound from the original post office in Townsite – today’s Townsite Brewing building – to Westview and back again.

“It was a lot of walking,” Bruce remarked at the event. “A lot more than what we do today.”

Angelo spent two years in the uniform, before leaving to become a baker. He supplied baking to every grocery store in the region – delivering it himself, too.

Angelo’s photo will be on permanent display at the Post Office. Bruce said a special thank you to the qathet Museum and Archives for the photo.

|| pieta@prliving.ca