Year after year, a small army of carriers has delivered the Shuswap Market News to homes in Salmon Arm, Sicamous and Chase.
As newspapers across Canada celebrate National Carrier Week, circulation manager Valerie McMillen wants to make sure her 70 carriers know she appreciates their efforts.
While the average age of the carriers is 13, some are as young as five and as old as 76, and some have been delivering papers for many years.
“They are the ones I never hear from, the ones I never get any complaints about,” says McMillen, noting some carriers deliver the papers to supplement their incomes to the tune of $50 to $100 per month, while others simply want to keep fit.
And this will do it, considering that, with flyers, each paper can weigh as much as one pound and the average route is 80 papers and takes over an hour to complete – on a good day.
“I’ve got great carriers and I also have a couple of subs who float and go out and do routes when I need them,” McMillen says, noting carriers also deliver Sears catalogues. “And it’s not like the old days; now they have to put them in safe, dry places where they won’t get wet or blown around. And there’s very hilly terrain, so it’s a big job.”
This year, McMillen would particularly like to honour two reliable carriers who have developmental disabilities: Kris Pretty and Mike Dewart.
Dewart has been delivering the paper since July, 2010.
“Mike loves his job and he’s very proud of how quickly and efficiently he can get it done,” says McMillen. “He’s conscientious and dependable, I never have to worry about him. I know he’s doing the job and he’s doing it well.”
Another happy and efficient carrier is Kris Pretty, who began his 100-paper route seven weeks ago.
“People like it for the good job I am doing, they talk to me,” he says with pride, and a bit of apprehension as he injured his hip in a fall last winter and had to quit his beloved bowling for a while. “They didn’t clear the snow away.”
Pretty’s paper route stretches from Okanagan Avenue and Second Street SE to Fourth Street and Second Avenue SE, where he has been warmly welcomed by area residents.
Merrilea Young, an employment specialist with the Shuswap Association For Community Living (SACL), accompanies Pretty on his paper trail.
“People have been incredibly supportive – it’s just been awesome,” she says, noting the paper route increases Pretty’s independence by raising his income, and improves his sense of well-being. “Being part of the community and having a sense of purpose is tremendous.”
“Yes,” adds Pretty, with a huge grin. “Helping people.”
The care and attention to their routes is something that all the current carriers share, says McMillen, noting complaints are down to a minimum and most calls she receives are from people cancelling delivery because they are going away.
“We do our best to make sure every route is covered and that the papers are delivered by 6 p.m. Friday at the latest,” says McMillen.
Three routes are currently up for grabs – two in the Hillcrest area and one near Bastion Elementary.
Anyone who is interested in becoming a carrier can connect with McMillen at the Salmon Arm Observer/Shuswap Market News office by phoning 250-832-2131.