Update: Here is a new problem! You turn up at your mailbox unit and it isn't there!

Community mailbox mystery solved

Residents couldn't figure out where their CPU had gone! Canada Post spokeswoman Anick Losier confirmed the mailbox was taken out by a car that spun out of control overnight Saturday and slammed into the mailbox, “practically ripping it out of the ground.” Police had no record of the collision, though it is possible the accident went unreported.

They have ordered this in bulk, and they are very poor quality. You can see they are very different from the original ones, placed in the new attempt to eliminate all letter carriers.

Canada Post, wishing to pop these suckers into Canadian communities, well before their time, have ordered them in bulk from an American company. New communities, as they develop, have been getting these Community Postal Units (CPUs). The not-so-brilliant Canada Post, influenced by the previous Conservative government to cut costs at all costs, has ordered these cheap mailboxes in bulk. Previously, the mailboxes have been introduced slowly, with, presumably, good, solid boxes.

Canada Post Corporation, and its affiliate Purolator Courier Ltd.,:(2006 article)

collected, processed and delivered 9.23 billion pieces of mail and parcels during the 1997-98 fiscal year
serves 35 million Canadians,
served 900 000+ businesses and public institutions,
delivers an average of 37 million pieces of mail,
processes through 22 major plants to over 12.7 million addresses in Canada.

We've seen these boxes in suburban areas quite a bit, but the huge turnover from door-to-door by Canada Post Corp., has been terrible. About one third of Canadians still get door-to-door.
The majority of us wanted reduced delivery, not getting converted to those dreaded CPUs. It doesn't bother some of the young people, with email, Twitter and electronic devices, but many of us cannot depend upon technology. Ours goes out in a storm. And, what happens when a spouse dies? The mail doesn't come to our door, and family must figure out how to access the electronics.

Those of us in rural settings still have our mailboxes. They are prone to poisonous Wild Parsnip, ice, snow ploughs and wind, and young men with baseball bats.

What's wrong with the new CPUs?

They’ve tried hot water, wood alcohol, heated keys and de-icing solutions, but some frustrated Ottawa residents still can’t get into their community mailboxes frozen shut by last week’s freezing rain. The Citizen reports the same difficulties in Charlottetown, PEI; Saguenay, Quebec, and Oakville, in southern Ontario.

Frozen mailboxes vex Ottawa residents

Robert Bowen of Solva Drive in Nepean said he has twice been frozen out of his mailbox this year, and has used lock de-icer purchased from Canadian Tire to liberate his mail.

OTTAWACITIZEN.COM

Canada Post in modern day

What's wrong with them? Those who are physically disabled, frail, or people working nights, are colliding with neighbours as they attempt to access their mailboxes. They've been installed in stupid places, in crowded city streets, blocking the view, or clocking traffic patterns.

They don't survive Canadian winters.

There were many incidents of theft over Christmas.

They are putting many people out of work.

They are built for USA winters.

They have outsourced to the US, when Canadians need work.

I worked for Canada Post in the summer. It was during my high school years, grades 10 - 13 (1972 - 1975). They introduced the modern Postal Code in 1971. It was in Pay and Services, firstly in the Scarborough Postal Plant in Toronto.

The History of Canada Post Corporation

It's a horrible time of year when cottages are vulnerable. Summer residents have gone back to their city homes. Schools are in full motion. Those who would prey on empty cottages begin to avail themselves of items they have not bought, earned, nor deserve.

There are companies who are hired to protect their clients' cottages. We always had a neighbour who lived near our 3-bedroom cottage. She walked her dog regularly and kept an eye out for us. The only thing that happened to us, the 50 years we had our cottage, was a partridge that flew into our front picture window!

Truthfully, most cottages don't

contain expensive items. Most people juggle the taxes on an old family cottage, to get out of the big city. Cottages are the place for board games, fun, swimming, and just hanging out. For many, they may have snowmobiles. They, too, are susceptible to theft.

Most people realize that they are only 'things' that are damaged. But it is an insult and a violation.
Westport was hit, as was Big Rideau Lake. Fishing rods. The theft of an expensive guitar tells us that the perpetrators knew of the Gibson 335 guitar's value ($4000).

OPP INVESTIGATING BREAK INS ON BIG RIDEAU LAKE

Rideau Ferry - On the 16th of September 2013 Ontario Provincial Police in Rideau Lakes Township responded to a call of a break in at a residence on R14.

As well on the 25th of August 2013, O.P.P investigated a break in at a neighbouring cottage on R14 where several fishing rods were taken.

Then there are those who take out their anger with vandalism, for example, in Bracebridge.

Rash of overnight vandalism in Bracebridge

by Norah Fountain
Cars damaged, propane hoses cut, property stolen last night

Updated Sept. 18, 12.17pm: Stacey Prokopec of Bracebridge was one person victimized by vandals who wreaked havoc for some property owners in her South Wellington Street neighbourhood last night. She says her motorcycle was set on fire and completely destroyed at about 11:30 pm (September 17.). She describes more local damage...read more.

The Bracebridge Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is asking anyone who may have had property damaged last night to call them. Last night, several vehicles were damaged, propane hoses on BBQs were cut, and property was taken. The rash of vandalism and thefts are believed to be related.