In spring 2026, Canada Post delivered notifications announcing that it is transitioning roughly 30,000 addresses in Ottawa from door-to-door mail delivery to community mailboxes. Blackburn Hamlet is included in this transition and the installation of the community mailboxes is now underway.
Who – Canada Post has made this decision. The community association, nor the municipal or provincial representatives can have any influence on this change. Canada Post is responsible for maintaining and servicing all community mailboxes to ensure they remain safe and accessible. This includes clearing snow and fixing or replacing locks as required.
What: Community mailboxes have 3 sections: The first is a group of small, locked compartment for each individual designated address. Second is a larger “parcel compartment” and third is a small slot for you to drop your outgoing letters. More than 80 per cent of parcels delivered by Canada Post fit into a community mailbox’s individual compartment or a dedicated parcel compartment. Parcels that don’t fit or that require a signature are delivered to the door or held for pickup at a nearby post office.
A Delivery Accommodation Program exists for residents who might face physical challenges accessing centralized boxes (such as winter mobility concerns or reach issues). The program offers a variety of options to make access to your mail easier. You must submit a request to Canada Post on their website, specifying which option you need. More information is available at canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/our-company/accessibility/delivery-ccommodation-program.page.
When: It is expected that the delivery in Blackburn Hamlet will start to transition to the community mailboxes in Spring 2027. Canada Post will send letters to residents ahead of the switch detailing when home delivery ends and where their new community mailbox will be located.
Why: Canada Post has been losing money for many years as the volume of letter mail continues to decrease. The Corporation is taking this action to ensure it can meet the evolving needs of Canadians in a financially sustainable way. Community mailboxes have been part of Canada’s delivery network for more than 40 years and are used by millions of Canadians.
For more information go to https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/personal/mailboxes-and-lockers/community-mailboxes.page
If you have any concerns regarding the location or quality of a nearby community mailbox installation, you can call Canada Post at 1-866-607-6301 Monday to Friday, 7 am to 11 pm ET and Saturday and Sunday, 9 am to 9 pm ET.