Canadian community named ‘gumboot capital’
On Tuesday the Canada Post officially honoured the rural Island community of Melville, Vancouver, as the Gumboot capital of the country.
At a ceremony at the Merville General Store, postal workers released a new, official cancellation stamp, drawn by local artist Terri Rodstrom, showing a rubber boot and proclaiming the title.
Small and large farms dot the landscape of Melville and its downtown has one building, which serves as the community's social hub and houses a general store, restaurant and post office. Gumboots have become essential to the farming community of the Island.
Kel Kelly, area director for the Regional District of Comox-Strathcona, said the gumboot is important to the town because many residents are still committed to the land and need the footwear while they walk through fields and wetlands.
"This is a real big deal for Merville," said Valerie Carter, the community's postmaster, who pushed for the designation, "It's going to put us on the map" .
