Canada Post

Canada Post, known as Royal Mail Canada prior to 1967, has a rich history that dates back to the early days of Canadian confederation. The Canada Post Corporation Act of 1981 transformed the former Post Office Department into the current Crown corporation that we recognize today as Canada Post.

The foundation of Canada's postal service can be traced back to 1851, 16 years before Confederation, when the Province of Canada was given the official responsibility for the post office, which had been administered by the British post office until that time. It quickly became one of the first departments formed in the new federal government.

Over the years, Canada Post has evolved to meet the changing needs of Canadians. It has expanded its services beyond mail delivery to include e-commerce solutions, digital mail services, and community support through the Canada Post Community Foundation. Established in 2012, this foundation is a registered charity that operates at arm's length from Canada Post and has granted over $12.3 million to 1,100 projects across Canada, focusing on supporting children and youth.

In recent years, Canada Post has also committed to the principles of truth and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in Canada. In 2022, they launched the Indigenous Truth and Reconciliation Signature Grant through their Community Foundation, designed to support educational initiatives that align with the goals and recommendations outlined in the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

Today, Canada Post continues to serve as a vital link connecting Canadians across the country and around the world, adapting to the digital age while maintaining its commitment to the communities it serves. The corporation's history is not only a reflection of its commitment to delivering mail but also its role in shaping Canadian society and supporting its growth and development.

Canada Post has a fascinating history and plays a crucial role in the daily lives of Canadians. Here are some interesting facts about this iconic institution:

1. **Early Beginnings**: The first Canadian post office was established in 1753 in Halifax by Benjamin Franklin, who was the Philadelphia postmaster at the time. This was well before Canada became a confederation and highlights the long-standing importance of postal services in the country.

2. **Railway Mail Service**: With the construction of Canada's first railway line in 1836, the mail service quickly adopted this new mode of transportation to move mail faster and farther, revolutionizing the way Canadians communicated.

3. **Volume of Mail**: Canada Post serves 15.1 million addresses, but only one-third of Canadians, about five million homes, receive their mail delivered to their door. The rest collect their mail from community, apartment, or rural-lot-line mailboxes.

4. **Cost of Operation**: It costs Canada Post an average of about $168 per address annually to operate the mail system, with varying costs depending on the method of delivery—from door-to-door service to rural mailbox delivery.

5. **Transition to Community Mailboxes**: In recent years, Canada Post has been phasing out door-to-door delivery for urban residents, moving towards community mailboxes. This change is part of a broader effort to modernize the postal service and manage costs more effectively.

6. **Stamp Controversy**: A commemorative stamp issued in 2013 featuring Benjamin Franklin stirred controversy, as some were unaware of Franklin's historical connection to Canada's postal service.

7. **Decreasing Mail Volume**: Despite the growth in the number of addresses served, the volume of mail delivered by Canada Post has been decreasing each year. This reflects the changing communication habits of Canadians and the rise of digital alternatives.

8. **Values and Social Responsibility**: Canada Post is guided by values of trust, respect, and delivery, and is committed to being a positive force for change in the communities it serves. This includes initiatives like the Indigenous Truth and Reconciliation Signature Grant, which supports educational projects aligned with the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

These facts highlight the dynamic nature of Canada Post and its adaptation to the evolving needs and habits of Canadians, while still maintaining its commitment to connecting people across the country and around the world.

The most valuable stamp ever issued by Canada Post is the 12d Black Canada stamp from 1851, which features the portrait of a young Queen Victoria. This stamp is considered one of the rarest and most coveted among collectors. Initially, 51,000 of these stamps were printed, but due to their high price at the time, only 1,450 were sold over three and a half years. Today, mint condition examples with intact gum are especially valuable because they were purchased by collectors who could afford them but chose not to use them for postage. One of the finest known examples of the 1851 12d Black Canada stamp was sold for $225,000 at a Canadian auction on February 23, 2013.

Another notable stamp is the 2¢ Large Queen on laid paper from 1868, which is among the most desired philatelic items from Canada. It wasn't discovered until 1925, and to date, only three used examples are known to exist. The rarity of this stamp is attributed to the fact that other examples were either destroyed or remain undiscovered, potentially lying unrecognized in collections. One of these stamps fetched $215,000 at an auction held by Eastern Auctions on October 18, 2014.

These stamps are not just valuable for their rarity or the errors that make them unique; they are also treasured as historical artifacts that offer a glimpse into Canada's past and the development of its postal service. Collectors and historians alike value these stamps for their connection to the broader narrative of Canadian history and philately. The high prices they command at auctions are a testament to their significance and the stories they represent.