It’s December, and the holidays are here.
Throughout this holiday season, Canada Post estimates it will deliver:
- seven million more packages compared to last year;
- one million packages a day on 26 days (compared with 16 such days last year);
- one million packages a day for 16 days in a row; and
- more than three million parcels on Sundays alone.
Dec. 12 is slated to be the busiest day of the year for delivery agents and retail stores across the country with an anticipated 3,500 parcels delivered each minute.
SANTA’S LETTERS
Aside from parcels, the Crown corporation is also responsible for delivering millions of cards, letters and lists during the holidays.
Every year, children from across Canada write to Santa; and every year, Canada Post ensures these letters reach the North Pole (and Santa’s replies reach their destination, too).
The national program was established more than 35 years ago, since which time Canada Post has mailed more than 26 million letters in more than 30 languages, including Braille.
According to Aurelie Walsh, spokeswoman for the Canada Post elves, letters to Santa must be mailed before Dec. 14 so Santa has enough time to send an answer. And don’t forget to include a return address, she warns.
There’s no need for postage, but be sure to get the special address right:Santa Claus
North Pole
H0H 0H0
Canada
Canada Post’s elves volunteer about 260,000 hours each year to complete the task of delivering Santa’s letters.
For Canada Post employee Nadia Chegrinec, writing to Saint Nick has been a family tradition for a decade. After the Santa Claus parade, her three children each wrote a letter.
“And it has to be a real letter, not just a list,” said Chegrinec. “I feel as the kids are growing up, our traditions are waning, and that’s one I’d like to hold on to.”
BUY STAMPS 24/7
On Nov. 22, Canada Post unveiled its latest retail concept store, located at 495 West Georgia St., in Vancouver, B.C.
Last month, Canada Post officially unveiled its latest retail concept store in Vancouver, B.C., where innovative new features offer more convenience for the Crown corporation’s various clients.
“Canada Post delivers two out of every three parcels Canadians order online, which means we’re quickly becoming the trusted face of thousands of online retailers,” said Canada Post CCO Doug Ettinger. “This new store signifies the importance we place on that relationship and the need to evolve to serve Canadian’s changing postal needs.”
The new Vancouver Main Post Office is located at 495 West Georgia St. Some of the new features include:
- a 24/7 self-serve shipping kiosk and automated parcel drop box, where you can ship night and day;
- a changing room where you can immediately try on your online purchases before returning whatever doesn’t work for you minutes later;
- 24/7 postal and parcel boxes where you can pick up securely and on your own time, even when the store is closed; and
- a vending machine that allows you to buy stamps as well as shipping supplies 24/7.
HOLIDAY MAILING DEADLINES
With less than four weeks until Christmas, there isn’t much time to send your cards, letters and gifts.
Holiday packages sent within Canada must be mailed by Dec. 12 for regular parcel; Dec. 21 for Xpresspost; and Dec. 22 for Priority.
Holiday cards sent within your own province must be mailed by Dec. 20 while cards sent out of province must be mailed by Dec. 19. Any local deliveries must be mailed by Dec. 21.
For more holiday mailing deadlines, click here.