If you were a senior (or anyone) with limited mobility, would you want to leave the safety of your home to pick up your government pension cheque or new credit card at a community mailbox? I know I wouldn’t. It is about providing a secure service to all Canadians (young, old, rich, poor, urban and rural).Ĭommunity mailboxes are out in the open and vulnerable to tampering. Wanting to keep this public service (door-to-door mail delivery) is not just about resisting change either. Notice in the photo the Canada Post crest that reads : “ servire populo” or “to serve the people”. ![]() It seems that the Board of Directors (and ultimately the Federal Government) chose to ignore these creative solutions, potentially saving and cultivating Canada Post, in favour of cutting service, jobs and increasing prices. financial services have become an economic salvation for any postal services facing challenges similar to Canada Post’s” “Ottawa rejected possible reform paths favoured by other national postal systems: British-style privatization or a move into financial services, as the United States is pondering. A scenario reminiscent of the situation facing another one of Canada’s Crown Corporation’s, the CBC, also a mere shadow of its former self. In his article, McKenna suggests that “a shrunken Canada Post may be exactly what the federal government wants”. The Globe and Mail’s Barrie McKenna believes that this diminished version of Canada Post “will inevitably be less relevant to Canadian businesses and individuals”. The problem? Expenses are rising while use plummets, all thanks to the internet. Once a strong and powerful national institution, Canada Post is now becoming a shadow of its former self. Vague phrases like that sound somewhat insincere and are rather uninspiring. Today, their corporate values include phrases like “ we value innovation in the marketplace” and “ integrity and respect in our actions”. With these recent changes it seems like Canada Post is no longer interested in serving the people of Canada. HagemoenĪt one point in its history, Canada Post’s motto was “ servire populo” or, “ to serve the people”. ![]() The door handles at the Vancouver Canada Post building. Less service and higher costs even a business amateur like me knows that is a losing business strategy. Most Canadians will now get their mail delivered to community mailboxes (don’t even get me started on those!). ▶ A Day in the Life of a Postman, B&W, 1964 – YouTube.Īlmost two years ago Canada Post announced that it will phase-out home delivery while at the same time substantially increasing postal rates. In voice-over, the unnamed postman discusses the details and merits of his job. He starts off in the Postal Outlet at 1535 West Broadway and before walking his route, has a coffee break in a nearby cafe. Produced in 1964 for the ‘7 O’Clock Show’, this CBUT (CBC Vancouver) documentary follows a postman through a working day as he delivers mail on his route (South Granville/Fairview). If you lived in the Broadway and Granville area of Fairview in the mid 1960s you might have met the postman featured in this CBUT documentary. There was a time when the postman was just one of the many people in your neighbourhood a person that you met each day. It’s a shame because it’s also about losing the tradition of having your mail delivered personally to your door by another human being. It’s a shame because it’s not just about the lost art of letter writing and receiving hand written items in the mail. Illuminated letter drop at the main Vancouver Postal station. I’m afraid that door-to-door mail delivery is going the way of the rotary dial landline telephone (remember those?) and I think that is a real shame. What does this all mean? It means the end of the conventional post office and mail delivery as we know it. Even etiquette traditionalists, bowing to the new technology, agree that email is an acceptable way to deliver an invitation, thank-you note or business letter. Since the advent of email, texting, twitter, Facebook and other digital technology there really isn’t a need, nor desire, to write and send letters (or cards) via snail mail. There is no doubt that everyone loves to receive a handwritten card, however very few people actually take the time to write one these days. HagemoenĪnalogue experiences like this are far and few between these days thanks to the internet. Postcard from my friend along with a flyer (what I usually receive in the mail) arrived in my mailbox recently. It was a delight to receive such a personal memento in the mail. ![]() Each of the thoughtfully selected postcards contained a brief narrative about one of her many experiences over the past 25 years. ![]() To celebrate the 25 th anniversary of her move to this Province, a friend of mine recently mailed out postcards from her extensive personal collection to all her friends.
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