By Chat News Today

A History of The POST in Medicine Hat

Nov 18, 2019 | 2:03 AM

It doesn’t matter if you’ve lived in Medicine Hat your entire life or are new to the sunny city; chances are that you’ve heard of The POST. It is an iconic part of our local community and this year The POST is celebrating its 40^th year of operation!

Located downtown at 410 South Railway Street, The POST is Medicine Hat’s premiere second-hand store. Whether it’s clothes, furniture, knick-knacks, books, golf clubs… the list goes on and The POST has it all! However, The POST is more than just a second-hand store full of treasures.

An idea arose within Medicine Hat’s Canadian Mental Health Association to open a second-hand store. 40 years ago, in December of 1979, that idea came to fruition. A location on Allowance Avenue was rented and the volunteers began the difficult task of launching Medicine Hat’s newest thrift store. The store was to be operated solely by volunteers and one store manager for the purpose of fundraising for the Canadian Mental Health Association.

The POST began with items that the volunteers had collected and donated from their own homes. With a few items collected, they began collecting clothing racks, building shelves, bins and partitions and then began accepting donations. The volunteers would often collect donations from around town and transport them to the store themselves, soliciting retailers for contributions as well.

By 1985, The POST had made a name for themselves in Medicine Hat and as a result, they had quickly outgrown their first location. At the same time, The Canadian Mental Health Association workers were anxious to find a new location of their own. With this in mind, attention was focused on a large store at the corner of 4^th Street and Aberdeen. Its size allowed for both store and offices to be accommodated in one space. The POST spent a few years there but would move one more time before finally relocating to the building it is in now.

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Today, The POST is three stores in one; the Clothing Store, Treasure Store and Bookstore. Like we said, if you need something, chances are The POST has it! The POST Bookstore has been in operation since 1999 and is used as a supportive employment program for individuals who experience mental health issues. All three stores are known for their quality and value and even though new competitors edged in on the market over the years, the introduction of debit machines and increased advertising helped to re-establish The POST’s competitive edge.

The POST has maintained its reputation in the community by being more than a second-hand store. Thanks to a vibrant community of volunteers and staff – many of whom have been around since the early years – The POST continues to work towards the Association’s mission of promoting mental health.

Many people dealing with mental health issues often have a difficult time finding and maintaining stable work. This is not necessarily due to their illness or symptoms, but rather a result of stigma and discrimination. Although employers are not legally allowed to discriminate when it comes to mental health issues, the sad fact remains that employers are still less likely to hire a person if they are aware a person is dealing with a mental illness.

The POST provides a supported work environment for individuals who experience mental health issues by having an integrated work environment which is a vital program in Southeastern Alberta. This means that employees and volunteers with and without mental health issues work together. With an estimated 26% of people suffering from a diagnosable mental health problem in any given year, it is important that workplaces and the community provide the proper support to help people thrive.

The supported work environment at The POST gives many individuals with mental health issues a chance to gain valuable work experience and skills. Employees gain confidence in a workplace that supports them regardless of their diagnosis. They practice communication and interpersonal skills by interacting with other staff, volunteers and customers. The experience at The POST provides an opportunity to build a resume and gather references, allowing people to move on to other paid employment. With this program, The POST is providing people with mental health issues a sense of purpose, pride and accomplishment.

While The POST operates programs like this behind-the-scenes, it also generates revenue thanks to the generous donations of second-hand merchandise. All proceeds generated at The POST remain in the community and fund Canadian Mental Health Association programs and services.

The volunteers and employees of The POST would like to thank the community for their support over the past 40 years. The initiatives and programs run by The POST and the Canadian Mental Health Association wouldn’t be what they are without the community’s generosity. Here is to another 40+ years, Medicine Hat!