SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
It appears Canada Post is Santa not Scrooge this holiday season as an informal survey of Yellowknifers shows postal service is better than it has been in years past.

Danny Cimon does a balancing act with several packages after leaving the downtown post office on Monday morning. The Yellowknife resident said that he was pleased his gifts, ordered online, arrived in time for Christmas. - John McFadden/NNSL photo

Around this time in 2013, Yellowknifer reported social media was alight with complaints from people saying they had not received mail in weeks. Residents in several neighbourhoods expressed concern they would not get cheques, cards, letters and packages in time for Christmas.

At the time, a Canada Post spokesperson blamed the delays on high turnover at the post office.

"This year we are well-staffed – we added some 2,000 workers across the country," John Caines, a Canada Post spokesperson in Ottawa, said Monday.

"The weather has been incredible and that has helped us a lot. There are two things we can't control and that's transportation and the weather."

Caines said he was not aware of any specific complaints in Yellowknife or anywhere else in the NWT over slow mail delivery this year. Package delivery volumes are up substantially, with a 20 per cent increase last Christmas and another 20 per cent increase this year, according to Caines, who added the high parcel volumes are directly attributed to the increasing popularity of online shopping.

"There's nowhere else to point ... It's been growing in leaps and bounds the last couple of years," Caines said.

One Yellowknifer who used online shopping for Christmas presents is Danny Cimon, who left the downtown post office with as many packages as he could carry on Monday morning.

"These are gifts for my kids that I bought through Amazon about two weeks ago.

"It's nice to online shop because of the selection that is available. Sometimes you want to be a little bit different than what everyone else gets," said Cimon. "This time of year is always crazy and if you only plan for the last minute than you increase your stress levels."

Maxine Avery was also pleased with her Canada Post experience this year.

"It was quick – mere minutes," Avery said as she walked away from the post office, parcel in hand. "We certainly haven't had any issues this year."

Yellowknife resident Mike Vaydik said that he also thinks Canada Post is doing a better job this year.

"They're friendly. They're efficient," he said as he left the post office with a smile. "You've got to plan ahead – it's Christmas time. There is a large volume – you've got to plan ahead."

Mary Sullivan, who was also at the post office Monday to collect parcels, agreed.

"I had really good service – no big lineups. I've come at off-times so it's worked out really well. So far so good," she said.

"I have noticed (service) has been better this year."

The good reviews do not mean everybody is a satisfied customer. One Yellowknife woman, who asked that her name not be used to protect any possible implications to a Canada Post employee, said a package from Amazon was found tossed over her front-yard fence.

"It was supposed to be delivered on (Dec.) 16 and we found it on (Dec.) 19 in the front yard covered in snow. If we hadn't found it that day, we might not have discovered it until spring, she said, adding none of the items inside were damaged.

She said she has no idea why it was delivered in that manner but added when they placed the order they directed Amazon to have the package delivered by Canada Post.

She added if you are missing a package right now, check your front yard.

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