With the installation of new Canada Post community mailboxes and elimination of door-to-delivery come spring 2015, residents question ease of access to their mail.
Greg Stewart has a “Save Canada Post” sign posted in the window of his home in Akinsdale, in support of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers who are fighting the postal service changes.
His concern lies with seniors and people with disabilities or mobility issues.
“It’s going to be such an inconvenience, especially in weather like (this),” he says. “It’s going to be impossible for them to plow through all this snow to get to their mailbox.”
If snow removal around mailboxes is going to be anything like transit centres around the city, users are going to be “hooped,” says power wheelchair user Murray Barker.
Barker currently receives door-to-door mail delivery.
“A lot of people that are disabled are housebound. Some have children or neighbours to go and get (the mail), but if you don’t, you’re pretty isolated,” he says.
Barker has learned to carry around a stick (of sorts) in cases where snow, ice, planters or other obstructions, hinder him from pushing the pedestrian crossing button at controlled crosswalks.
He hopes the new community mailboxes are designed with the handicapped in mind and tested by handicapped users.
Canada Post has spent a significant portion of the last year speaking with experts on seniors, mobility and disability issues, explains Jon Hamilton, spokesman for Canada Post.
The community mailboxes have been designed with ergonomics in mind. Canada Post is also responsible for snow removal around the community mailbox sites.
“What we have now is a program that allows us to cater to the individual’s needs and specific circumstances. Some people can get there but it’s a matter of difficulty getting the mail out of the box,” he says.
In cases where there are dexterity issues, Canada Post will provide a key turner aid or a plastic tray inserted into the mailbox that can be pulled out, for easier access to mail.
If an individual has challenges getting to the mailbox, extra keys will be cut for friends, family members or neighbours. Mail can also be redirected to another person.
In cases where there are few options, mail will be delivered to the home one day per week and to the community mailbox the rest of the time (five days per week).
Special accommodations will be provided free of charge, assures Hamilton, and will still be a cost savings to Canada Post.
So far “low single digit percentages” of people interested in special accommodations have contacted Canada Post, he says. There may be more interest when the changes are implemented in the spring.
In December 2013, Canada Post announced that it would transition door-to-door delivery to community mailboxes over the next five years.
Need special accommodations?
If you have questions or need special accommodations because you have significant mobility issues and lack alternatives to access your community mailbox, call 1-844-454-3009.
