A Mailbox Flattened by a Fallen Tree Lies in the Snow in Malvern
A mailbox flattened by a fallen tree lies in the snow in Malvern, Pennsylvania, February 8, 2014, in the aftermath of an ice storm which hit the Philadelphia area, where an estimated 280,000 PECO customers from the region lacked power. REUTERS

Canada Post has launched the design of the new community mailboxes that will take effect this fall.

The 164-cm-tall unit has been designed to accommodate the needs of Canada's many online shoppers.

"These boxes are meant for the realities of today and the future," Jon Hamilton, Canada Post spokesman, said. "The future is less mail in the box, and more boxes in the mail."

The new and improved community mailboxes feature an extra-wide slot for outgoing mail, larger individual compartments and larger parcel compartments. It has a sloped roof so rain and snow drains away from the compartment doors. It has a "new kind of secure lock" to keep safe the contents of each compartment.

The new design can handle online purchases such as small electronics or clothing. However, Mr Hamilton cleared that any parcel that requires a signature will still be delivered to the recipient's door.

At least 11 communities will have the new community mailboxes starting this fall, which include the following:

  • Some neighbourhoods in Calgary (Postal codes start with T2B, T3J) (10,450 addresses)
  • Fort McMurray, Alta. (8,450 addresses)
  • Some neighbourhoods in Winnipeg (Postal codes start with R2P, R2V) (12,500 addresses)
  • Oakville, Ont. (26,400 addresses)
  • Neighbourhoods in Kanata (Postal codes start with K2K, K2L, K2M) (7,900 addresses)
  • Rosemere, Que. (3,350 addresses)
  • Lorraine, Que. (2,550 addresses)
  • Bois-des-Filion, Que. (2,750 addresses)
  • Charlemagne, Que. (1,300 addresses)
  • Repentigny, Que. (14,400 addresses)
  • Halifax neighbourhoods in the Lower Sackville and Bedford areas (Postal codes start with (B4A, B4B, B4C, B4E, B4G) (9,950 addresses).

Canada Post said the new community mailboxes have been designed to accept more than 50 per cent of the parcels mailed in Canada.

"As more people began to communicate and manage their household bills online, lettermail volumes declined sharply. Yet as more people shopped online, parcel volumes shot up," Canada Post said. "This dramatic shift is creating a pressing need to manage a greater number of parcels and less mail with more valuable items."

Canada Post likewise said it can provide customers who have a disability individual compartments with a particular height to meet their needs.

It was in December 2013 when Canada Post announced it will be eliminating door-to-door delivery over the next 5 years, risking the jobs of some 6,000 to 8,000 personnel.