Mansonville Post Office says good-bye to Postmaster Barbara Taylor
For fourteen years now, Barbara Taylor has worked at the Post Office in Mansonville where she was promoted to Postmaster after doing the job for two years, in 2012. She has assumed the role since. Working alongside a wonderful team that contributes to Potton’s often celebrated postal service, Barbara brought her people skills and caring approach to the job. This week, the Post Office will be saying good-bye to Barbara following her decision to take an early retirement.
When a person chooses to retire, the end of a career in public service becomes a celebration and the opportunity for the community to express its gratitude and best wishes. For Barbara, the heartfelt tributes and abundant thanks have been coming in a steady flow over the past week and into this one, her last. Banners, cards, bouquets and so many expressions of joy and good wishes all for a woman who has served the people as she herself wants to be served when seeking a service.
In becoming Postmaster, Barbara was quick to acknowledge the women who filled the job before her and she will no doubt pass on the baton to the next Postmaster in the same way; with respect, pride and support. Barbara Taylor is a team player and she always ran the post office the way she felt Canada Post would want its reputation to be projected. Since Barbara began her position, Lyndell Tracy has been by her side and Lyndell will continue at the Post Office after Taylor says good-bye. Potton is therefore assured that the quality and exceptional service received thus far will continue with Lyndell at the helm.
For some, a stop at the Post Office to talk to Taylor each morning while picking up their mail was a chance to receive a smile, a kind word and a bit of encouragement to face the day. For youth, like my sons and so many others, Barb was the woman with all the answers whether it was changing an address, sending a package or working on a school project. The little ones in the town know her as the lollipop lady who forwards a precious letter to Santa every Christmas with so much enthusiasm one could not help but feel that their letter would reach Santa at the North Pole before all others.
For the business community, Taylor has always provided advice, suggestions and wisdom in offering professional support. Some people fulfill a job to such degree that we can find ourselves wondering what it will be like without them? Barbara would assure us all that, “it will be just fine.”
Barbara plans to end this week as she started her first official one as Postmaster, with cookies of course! The first 100 customers to stop by on her last day will receive a sweet treat as Barbara takes her turn saying, “thank you.”
“I’m not leaving Potton, I’m just at a point in my life where it is time to do some things for me,” shared Taylor. “I may travel, spend time with family and friends, read a book or maybe write one of my own. I do hope to remain on a first name basis with most of the community and to continue to strengthen the many friendships I have made while working at the Post Office.”
Taylor, the recipient in 2012 of the Queen’s Jubilee Medal and Governor Generals Award for her contribution to her community and country, plans to volunteer with the Missisquoi North Volunteer Centre (CABMN), where she was not only once employed working with the Ken Jones Respite Program but where she was long involved on committees, the Board of Directors, with fundraisers, programs and more over the years.
“I am a firm believer in giving of ones time and talents,” said Taylor. “I will set my own limits and keep in mind that at 62, I still have a lot of time and gifts to contribute to my community.”
As she places the last stamp on a customer’s envelope, listens to the last key turn in a mailbox in the entrance way or answers that final phone call, “Poste de Canada bonjour,” no doubt, Taylor will feel a tug at her heartstrings. It’s never easy to leave something you have loved doing but it is oh so sweet to know when to let it go on your own terms. Potton extends a sincere thank you to Barbara Taylor its Postmaster; come Monday morning she can sleep in and wait for her own mail to be delivered.