Canada Post is continuing its large-scale reform of mail delivery. By 2027, approximately 485,000 addresses in 37 Canadian communities are scheduled to transition from door-to-door letter delivery to community mailboxes.
The changes will affect various regions of the country, including Calgary and Edmonton. In Alberta, about 56,000 addresses are set to transition to the new system.
For many Canadians, community mailboxes have long been a familiar part of daily life. However, residents of areas where mail carriers still deliver mail to homes will have to gradually get used to the new format.
What exactly will change
After the transition to the new system, regular letters, documents, and most small packages will no longer be delivered to the door. They will be left in secure community mailboxes installed near residential neighborhoods.
Each household will receive a key to a separate compartment. For larger packages, these complexes usually have special drop-off areas.
According to Canada Post, over 80% of the packages delivered by the corporation are placed in individual or special package lockers. If a shipment is too large or requires a signature, it may be delivered to the door or left for pickup at the nearest post office.
Therefore, this primarily involves the discontinuation of regular mail delivery to every home, rather than a complete cessation of home delivery for all packages.
Where the changes will take place
In 2027, the transition to community mailboxes is planned for the following provinces and communities:
Nova Scotia
In Halifax, approximately 17,000 addresses are scheduled to be transitioned to the new system.
New Brunswick
The changes will affect Fredericton and Oromocto. In total, this involves approximately 17,000 addresses.
Quebec
The list includes:
- L’Ancienne-Lorette;
- Laval;
- Longueuil;
- Quebec City;
- Saint-Hubert;
- Trois-Rivières.
The province plans to transition approximately 139,000 addresses to community mailboxes.
Ontario
Changes are expected in the following communities:
- Ajax;
- Brampton;
- Hawkesbury;
- Kitchener;
- London;
- Mississauga;
- Ottawa;
- Pickering.
In total, the new system is expected to cover approximately 158,000 addresses in Ontario—the highest number among all provinces on the new list.
Manitoba
The transition is planned for Portage la Prairie and Winnipeg. This involves approximately 17,000 addresses.
Alberta
Calgary and Edmonton are on the list. In the province’s two largest cities, approximately 56,000 addresses are scheduled to be transferred to community mailboxes.
Canada Post has not yet announced which specific areas of Calgary and Edmonton will be affected by the changes. A detailed list of postal codes will be updated gradually on the corporation’s official website.
British Columbia
In the province, the changes will affect approximately 81,000 addresses. The list includes:
- Burnaby;
- Colwood;
- Coquitlam;
- Esquimalt;
- Kelowna;
- Langford;
- New Westminster;
- Port Coquitlam;
- Port Moody;
- Saanich;
- Songhees Nation;
- Victoria;
- View Royal;
- Westbank First Nation;
- West Kelowna.
All figures provided are approximate and may be refined during preparations for the transition.
Why Canada Post is phasing out door-to-door delivery
The corporation explains the reform as a necessity to cut costs and make the postal system more financially stable.
Delivering letters to every individual home is significantly more expensive than maintaining centralized mailboxes. Mail carriers spend more time on their routes, and the system itself requires more staff and vehicles.
Canada Post also points to its difficult financial situation. According to the corporation, a record loss was recorded in 2025, and significant losses continued into the first quarter of 2026.
The transition to community mailboxes is cited as one of the key elements of a broader transformation of the postal service. Its goal is to modernize Canada Post and reduce the risk that maintaining the corporation will become a permanent financial burden on taxpayers.
Another argument is security. Letters and most packages will be stored in locked compartments rather than left at the front door.
This is just one phase of a major reform
The 485,000 addresses announced are neither the first nor the last part of the transition.
In April 2026, Canada Post had already announced the transition of approximately 136,000 addresses in 13 communities. These changes are scheduled to take place in late 2026 or early 2027.
In total, the corporation plans to transition about 4 million addresses—which currently receive mail directly at their doorsteps—to community mailboxes over the course of approximately five years.
At the same time, nearly three-quarters of Canadian addresses already use one of the centralized delivery formats. These may include community mailboxes, mailboxes in the lobbies of apartment buildings, or private mailboxes at post offices.
How the transition will take place
The changes will not be implemented all at once. According to Canada Post, preparing each community typically takes several months.
First, the corporation will consult with local authorities and look for suitable locations to install mailboxes. When making the selection, they must consider safety, accessibility, traffic flow, and convenience for residents.
Once a location is determined, residents will receive an official notice. Before the new system begins, they will also receive information about the mailbox’s location and keys to their individual compartment.
Canada Post promises to keep residents, local authorities, businesses, employees, and unions informed about each stage of the transition well in advance.
The corporation will also be responsible for maintaining the community mailboxes. This includes repairing and replacing locks, keeping the structures in good condition, and clearing snow around them.
What should people do if they have difficulty accessing a mailbox?
A separate issue concerns older adults, residents with disabilities, and others who, due to functional limitations, may find it difficult to regularly visit a public mailbox.
For such cases, Canada Post offers the free Delivery Accommodation Program. Currently, over 17,000 households are benefiting from various forms of support under this program.
Depending on a person’s needs, the following may be offered:
- a mailbox at a more accessible height;
- a pull-out tray;
- Braille labeling;
- other adaptations for easier use;
- weekly home mail delivery.
Home delivery can be provided temporarily, seasonally, or permanently—depending on the specific situation.
You can submit a request for special accommodations after receiving an official letter with information about the new public mailbox.