Canada Post History and Services Explained

Canada Post has a rich history that dates back to 1867, when it was established as a Crown corporation to provide postal services across the country.

The first post office was opened in St. John's, Newfoundland, and it was responsible for collecting and delivering mail to the rest of the country.

Canada Post has undergone many changes over the years, with a major shift happening in 1969 when it became a Crown corporation.

Today, Canada Post is a self-financing organization that provides a wide range of services to Canadians, including mail delivery, package shipping, and banking services.

Canada Post has a rich history that dates back to the early 16th century. The first known letter sent from present-day Canada was written by John Rut in 1527, and it was sent to King Henry VIII.

The history of mail delivery in Canada began in 1693 when Pedro da Silva, a Portuguese-born individual, was paid to deliver mail between Quebec City and Montreal. This marked the start of mail delivery within Canada.

In 1851, the Province of Canada took control of postal services from the Postmaster General of the United Kingdom. The first postage stamp, designed by Sandford Fleming, was also introduced that year.

The Post Office Department was established in 1867 as a federal government department, with the Act for the Regulation of the Postal Service taking effect on April 1, 1868. This provided a uniform postal service throughout the newly established dominion.

The Canadian post office was modeled after the British service, which introduced the concept of charging mail by weight and not destination, along with creating the concept of the postage stamp. The Post Office Department traded under the name The Royal Mail Canada.

Several historical sites related to the history of the Post Office Department of Canada can still be visited today, including the first Toronto Post Office and the Dawson, Yukon, Post Office, a National Historic Site of Canada.

Canada Post has expanded its services beyond mail delivery, now offering e-commerce solutions and digital mail services. This shift reflects the changing communication habits of Canadians.

The organization has been phasing out door-to-door delivery for urban residents, moving towards community mailboxes. This change affects about two-thirds of Canadians, who now collect their mail from community, apartment, or rural-lot-line mailboxes.

Canada Post serves 15.1 million addresses, with an average annual operating cost of about $168 per address. The cost varies depending on the type of mail delivery, with door-to-door delivery being the most expensive.

Canada Post has issued several valuable stamps that are rare and treasured as historical artifacts. They offer a glimpse into Canada's past and the development of its postal service.

The 12d Black Canada stamp, minted in 1851, is the most valuable postage stamp ever issued by Canada Post. It features a portrait of a young Queen Victoria.

Only 1,450 of the 51,000 printed 12d Black Canada stamps were sold over three and a half years due to their high price at the time. This makes it one of the rarest Canadian stamps in existence.

One of the finest known examples of the 12d Black Canada stamp sold for $225,000 at a Canadian auction in 2013.

Mail format is a crucial aspect of sending mail within Canada. Any letter sent within Canada has the destination address on the centre of its envelope, with a stamp, postal indicia, meter label, or frank mark on the top-right corner to acknowledge payment of postage.

A return address can be included, although it's not required, on the top-left corner or the back of the envelope in smaller type than the destination address.

Official addressing protocol in Canada dictates that addresses should be in block letters, using a fixed-pitch typeface like Courier. The first line(s) of the address contain(s) the personal name and internal address of the recipient.

Here's a breakdown of the correct format:

The last line of the address should consist of the legal place name, a single space, the two-letter province abbreviation, two full spaces, and then the postal code. The country designation is unnecessary if mailed within Canada.

Canada Post offers a wide range of products and services, including e-commerce solutions and digital mail services.

The corporation has a directory of all its products and services called the Postal Guide, which categorizes its services into three main categories: Transaction Mail, Parcels and Direct Marketing.

Transaction Mail includes the lettermail service, which allows the transmission of virtually any paper document, with rates ranging from 85 cents to $1.27 depending on the weight and size of the letter.

The rate for ordinary letters (30 g or less) is regulated by a price-cap formula linked to the inflation rate, and is usually increased in mid-January of each year.

Canada Post now offers a "permanent" stamp that is valued at the domestic rate forever, eliminating the need to buy 1 cent stamps after a rate increase.

The rates for lettermail are based on weight and size, and determine whether the article falls into the standard format or the oversize one.

If you're looking for a customized delivery experience, Xpresspost has paid options that offer convenience, security, and protection for shipments.

One of these options is Signature and Identity Verification, which provides added security and a hard copy of the signature upon delivery.

Liability Coverage is also available, offering additional coverage up to $5,000 with terms and conditions that you should review carefully.

If you're shipping to Canada, you can opt for Collect on Delivery (COD), which allows payment by credit card or cash upon delivery.

Returns option is another paid feature that ensures parcels are returned to the customer if the recipient's address is incomplete, incorrect, or moved.

Canada Post offers a range of domestic and international shipping services to suit different needs and deadlines.

Domestic shipping services include Regular Parcel, Expedited Parcel, Xpresspost, and Priority, each with varying delivery times and requirements. For example, Xpresspost offers delivery within 1 to 2 business days between major centres.

Canada Post also offers international shipping to over 190 countries worldwide, with services like Xpresspost International, International Parcel – Air, and Tracked Packet International. These services provide fast and cost-effective options for sending packages abroad.

Here are the different domestic parcel services offered by Canada Post:

Canada Post offers several domestic parcel services, each with its own delivery times and characteristics. The maximum acceptable weight for these services is 30 kg.

You can choose from four domestic parcel services: Regular Parcel, Expedited Parcel, Xpresspost, and Priority. Each of these services has its own delivery time, ranging from 1 to 13 business days.

If you're shipping to a major centre, Xpresspost is a good option, as it offers delivery times of 1 to 2 business days. However, if you're shipping to a more remote area, delivery times can take up to 7 business days.

Expedited Parcel is another option, but it's only available to business customers. This service also offers delivery times of 1 to 13 business days.

Here's a summary of the domestic parcel services offered by Canada Post:

Canada Post also offers a Track tool on its website, where you can track your packages and shipments using tracking numbers or reference numbers.

Canada Post offers international shipping to over 190 countries worldwide, making it a convenient option for sending packages abroad.

You can choose from a variety of shipping options, including Xpresspost International, which provides fast and guaranteed on-time delivery.

If you're shipping lightweight or low-value items, Canada Post also offers cost-effective options, such as Small Packet International - Air.

Their international shipping services include tracking and signature, so you can rest assured that your package will arrive safely.

Here are some of the international shipping options available through Canada Post:

You can find your Canada Post tracking number on your shipping receipt, confirmation email from the sender, prepaid envelope or flat rate box label, or Track list if added through automatic tracking.

If you're missing your tracking number, you can also use the Track tool on the Canada Post website to locate it.

To track your package, you'll need to enter your tracking number into the Track tool.

Canada Post has a partnership with AfterShip, which allows you to track your parcels on their tracking page.

You can also use the AfterShip tracking page to locate your Canada Post tracking number, by following a few simple steps.

Here are the steps to follow:

Canada Post tracking numbers are usually 13 digits long, but they can be shorter or longer depending on the service used.

You can also use a barcode scanner to quickly and easily track your package by scanning the barcode on the shipping label.

The 1970s was a tough decade for Canada Post, with major strikes and annual deficits that had hit $600 million by 1981.

This state of affairs led to two years of public debate and input into the future of mail delivery in Canada, resulting in the government seeking to give the post office more autonomy.

The Canada Post Corporation Act was passed on October 16, 1981, transforming Canada Post into a Crown corporation and creating the Canada Post Corporation (CPC).

The legislation also guaranteed basic postal service to all Canadians, stipulating that all Canadians have the right to expect mail delivery, regardless of where they live.

Canada Post began phasing in community mailboxes instead of door-to-door delivery in new subdivisions in 1985.

This move was met with legal challenges, requiring an Ontario court to rule that the Canada Post Act does not require door-to-door mail delivery.

By 1989, Canada Post had resolved much of its financial troubles, reporting its first profit since 1957.

It continued to operate at a consistent profit from 1995 to 2010.

Canada Post has a complex history with labour relations, marked by frequent strikes and lockouts. There have been at least 19 instances between 1965 and 1997, including wildcat strikes.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) has been a major player in these labour disputes. They merged with the Letter Carriers Union of Canada in 1989.

Canada Post employees who aren't part of CUPW are represented by smaller unions, including the Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association, which covers 12,000 rural workers, and the Association of Postal Officials of Canada, which has 3,400 supervisors.

The Canada Post Community Foundation has been a game-changer for communities across Canada, granting over $12.3 million to 1,100 projects since its establishment in 2012.

This foundation focuses on supporting children and youth, making a tangible difference in the lives of many.

In 2022, the Foundation took a significant step by launching the Indigenous Truth and Reconciliation Signature Grant, designed to support educational initiatives that align with the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

This grant acknowledges the importance of reconciliation and education in healing historical wounds and promoting understanding.

By providing financial support to these initiatives, the Canada Post Community Foundation is helping to create a more inclusive and compassionate society.

Canada Post has a history of troubled labour relations with its trade unions, particularly the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW). This has led to periodic strike action that has halted mail service in Canada on different occasions.

There were at least 19 strikes, lockouts, and walkouts between 1965 and 1997. Several of these strikes were countered with strikebreakers and back-to-work legislation from the Canadian parliament.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) has been a major player in these labour disputes, and in 1989 it merged with the Letter Carriers Union of Canada.

You can pay the amount you owe at a Canada Post retail location with your CRA QR code. This is a convenient option for making payments.

To make a payment, simply visit a Canada Post retail location with your QR code in hand.