Petition swells to stop plan for bank closure
Only financial institution in Mayland Heights
Former alderman John Schmal is leading the charge to stop a northeast community Scotiabank from closing down.
Nearly 500 residents of Mayland Heights and surrounding neighbourhoods have signed a petition pleading with the Bank of Nova Scotia to keep their local branch open.
“(Signatures number) 490, and that’s very significant for a small community,” Schmal said. “Over and over again we have pleaded with them and we’ve given them a petition that showed our reasons for why it should not be closed.”
In a letter attached to the petition, Schmal said the branch is the only bank representing residents and businesses in the communities of Mayland Heights, Belfast and Vista Heights.
“Today’s city-hall planning of new communities focus on people walking instead of driving to available community services,” Schmal said in the letter. “Scotiabank’s top management seem to do their planning in reverse and force their customers to drive to another Scotia branch located at 32 Avenue and 36 Street northeast.”
Schmal said the drive to keep the branch open mainly comes from the affected communities’ senior citizen population.
“Many of them don’t have vehicles any longer, they now walk, and this is their daily walk when they go from their houses to the little shopping plaza,” Schmal said.
“The bank tends to assume or rattle on, saying; ‘Everyone today has access to computers and so it’s all online, so what do you really need us for?’”
The Crossroads Community Association represents the communities that would be affected. Association president Larry Leach says online banking is not an option for the aging population in the area.
“We certainly understand technology is taking a bigger and bigger role in everybody’s world, but it doesn’t mean it works for everyone.”
Leach said he would like to start an open dialogue with Scotiabank to voice the community’s concerns, but said Scotiabank has not been in contact with the group.
“We’d certainly like to see what the plans are moving forward for our residents,” Leach said. “Because at the end of the day, we want to make sure our resident’s needs are met and taken care of.”
Schmal said he is also concerned closing the branch could affect local businesses in the area.
“The plaza is a key focal point in our communities,” Schmal said. “Scotiabank is considered a key tenant and for them to close their doors could have a very negative impact on the survival of the plaza.”
Leach said the community has kept key businesses and infrastructure from closing in the past, and hopes to add Scotiabank to the list of success stories.
“We fought the closure of our Mayland Heights Elementary School and now it’s bursting at the seams with kids,” Leach said.
“When the community gets up in arms about something we tend to have some success in terms of making sure our citizens’ needs are met, so I hope Scotiabank recognizes that.”