Canada Post understands the important role the postal service plays and is committed to serving Canadians while taking action to keep our people and our communities safe. To do so effectively in these challenging times, the postal service will continue to review and quickly adapt their approach with health and safety as the primary goal.
Canada Post has initiated the following changes to delivery operations and retail postal network:
Hours of Service: For the Weyburn Post Office, opening one hour later and closing one hour earlier to clean, restock and provide some relief to employees. The new hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 pm, Monday through Friday.
The other post office, located at 30 Third St, N.E., is operated by Pharmasave, which manages its own operating hours, including the post office hours.
As well, for the first hour of each day, priority service will be offered to those who are at a higher risk (the elderly or people with compromised immune systems). Franchise operated post offices will follow the measures put in place by franchise operators.
Canada Post is working to keep post offices open, but some may close due to building closures beyond their control and some smaller locations may close due to personnel reasons. In these cases, customers will be directed to the nearest operating post office.
Physical Distancing: Canada Post is asking waiting customers to space themselves two metres (six feet) apart. They are working on signage and floor decals for larger post offices. For smaller offices, the number of customers may be limited. They are also working on clear barriers for the counter to increase safety.
Transactions: Canada Post will continue to accept cash, but are encouraging customers to pay by using the “tap” function on their debit or credit cards where possible.
Parcel pick-up: Parcels left at the post office for pickup will not be returned-to-sender until further notice. The normal 15-day hold period has been suspended. Customers who are feeling ill or self-isolating are asked to delay their visit to the post office and to pick up their parcel when it’s safe to do so.
Parcel Delivery:To eliminate customer interactions at the door, reduce post office customer traffic and support social and physical distancing, Canada Post implemented a Knock, Drop and Go approach. Delivery employees will knock or ring, choose the safest location available to leave the item and then depart for the next address.
This change eliminates the need for signatures at the door and greatly reduces the number of parcels sent to post offices for pick-up.
Items that require proof of age, ID or Customs payments will be sent directly from the depots to a retail post office for pick-up with no restrictions on when customers can pick up the item. Customers will receive a Delivery Notice Card in their mail letting them know which post office is holding their item for pickup.
Service guarantees:The goal is to continue providing timely and reliable service. But to be safe, to give postal employees time and manage potential challenges, they have suspended on On-time Delivery Guarantees for all parcel services, until further notice.
Help with Social Distancing
Canada Post makes the following request: “We please ask you to respect social and physical distancing with our employees who you may see out in the community. This will further support the social distancing initiatives we’ve implemented in our plants, depots and post offices. Like other organizations providing important services, our people are working hard under difficult circumstances.”
During delivery: Give postal employees space and avoid opening the door or greeting them personally when they are at the door to deliver, or filling a community mailbox.
In post offices: When in a retail post office, practise social distancing and the other measures that have been implemented.
While social and physical distancing efforts to keep communities safe is appreciated, social interaction from a distance is also very much appreciated by Canada Post workers. A simple smile and wave through the window to your delivery agent, a supportive thumbs-up to the driver of the Canada Post truck as they go by or patience and a thank-you to the person working at the post office all go a very long way these days.
