Is Canada Post Open Today? Here's Your Complete Guide

Wondering if you’ll be able to mail that letter or pick up a package from Canada Post today? With multiple holidays and potential closures each month, it can be tricky to keep their hours straight.

The short answer: Canada Post is closed weekends and holidays, but may have some locations open limited hours. Read on for a complete guide to Canada Post hours and exceptions.

In this detailed guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Canada Post open days and times including:

Regular hours and delivery times
Holiday closures and exceptions
Weekend hours
Impacts from COVID-19
How to check your local hours
And more!

Let’s start by looking at their standard operating hours.

Table of Contents

What Are the Regular Canada Post Hours and Delivery Times?

Canada Post typically operates between Monday to Friday for mail delivery and postal services.

The standard hours are:

Post offices open – 9am to 5pm
Mail delivery – 9am to 8pm

Delivery times are an estimate and can vary depending on your location. Mail may arrive anytime between 9am and 8pm on weekdays.

The hours for post office retail services also depend on location. Larger corporate offices tend to be open from 9am to 5pm on weekdays. Smaller rural post offices may offer more limited hours like 9am to 4pm.

It’s always best to check your local post office hours if you need to visit in person. Their website lets you find locations close to your home or work and view the hours of operation.

Is Canada Post Ever Open on Weekends?

Canada Post typically does not provide mail delivery or postal services on Saturdays or Sundays.

Most corporate post office locations are closed on weekends. The only exceptions are some franchise post office outlets inside drug stores, grocery stores, or other retail settings.

These franchise post office locations may be open for limited hours on Saturdays or Sundays according to the business hours of the host store.

For example, if the Shoppers Drug Mart is open 10am to 5pm on Sundays, their Canada Post desk may be open for mail pickup and drop-off during those same hours. But full postal services are not available.

While regular mail and post office services are not offered on weekends, Canada Post may provide some package delivery on Sundays in select areas depending on seasonal volumes and staff availability.

So unless you’re picking up parcels, Canada Post is generally closed Saturdays and Sundays.

Is Canada Post Open on Statutory Holidays and Closures?

Canada Post observes several statutory holidays each year when post offices are fully closed:

New Year’s Day
Good Friday
Victoria Day
Canada Day
Labour Day
Thanksgiving
Christmas Day
Boxing Day

On these statutory holidays, Canada Post does not offer mail delivery or postal services. All corporate offices and retail locations are closed.

When a statutory holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the day of closure may be moved to the following Monday or first business day after the holiday.

For example, if Christmas Day lands on a Sunday, then Boxing Day and the statutory holiday closure would take place on the Monday and Tuesday instead.

The only exception is that some franchise post office outlets inside grocery stores, pharmacies, or other retailers may remain open on statutory holidays. Their Canada Post desk would be open according to the business hours of the host store.

So while corporate post offices are closed on holidays, third-party franchise locations may offer limited services if the store is open. Besides these retailers, all other Canada Post offices and delivery are suspended for statutory holidays.

How Can I Check If My Local Canada Post Office Is Open Today?

To check if your specific post office is open today, you have a few options:

Check online – Canada Post lists temporary closures or changes in hours on their website
Call ahead – You can call your local post office to confirm today’s hours
Look for notices – Signs may be posted if the location has reduced hours or closures
Try in-person – If urgent, try visiting the post office to verify if it’s open

With statutory holidays and potential temporary closures, it’s always a good idea to confirm your local Canada Post hours rather than assuming they are open. Calling ahead or checking online can help avoid an unnecessary trip if the office is unexpectedly closed when you arrive.

You can also look up contact details for your area’s post offices on the Canada Post website or site apps to call ahead.

Could My Mail Delivery Be Delayed or Suspended in My Area Today?

Sometimes mail and parcel delivery could be briefly delayed or suspended in specific neighborhoods or regions due to:

Extreme weather conditions
Transportation disruptions
Staffing shortages
Volume surges during peak seasons
Public health situations like COVID-19

Canada Post provides delivery service alerts on their website. These highlight any current disruptions that may be impacting mail delivery locally so customers can stay informed.

It’s a smart idea to check the delivery alerts page if you are waiting for important mail or parcels and they do not arrive on the expected day. The alerts can indicate if exceptional circumstances in your postal code are affecting delivery timelines.

When Does Canada Post Deliver Mail and Parcels?

Knowing the typical mail and parcel delivery schedule from Canada Post can provide guidance on when to anticipate your items:

Monday to Friday – Standard delivery days for all mail and parcels
Saturdays – No regular mail delivery
Sundays – No regular mail delivery
Statutory holidays – No mail delivery, postal outlets closed

Mail and packages will not be delivered on weekends or statutory holidays when post offices are closed. Canada Post does not offer regular postal services on those days.

However, Canada Post may provide parcel delivery on some Sundays and holidays, especially during peak seasons like Christmas. But mail is generally not delivered those days.

So you can expect deliveries any weekday from Monday to Friday, unless impacted by an exceptional disruption. Weekends and holidays should be mail-free days.

When Are the Key Canada Post Holiday Closures To Know About?

These are some of the major statutory holiday closures that will affect Canada Post hours and delivery in 2024:

New Year’s Day

Lands on January 1st
Post offices and delivery closed
As Jan 1 is a Monday in 2024, standard closure

Good Friday and Easter Monday

Good Friday closure on March 29, 2024
Easter Monday closure on April 1, 2024
No post offices open or mail delivery either day

Victoria Day

Falls on Monday, May 20, 2024
Closed for Victoria Day statutory holiday

Canada Day

Lands on Monday, July 1, 2024
Closed for Canada Day
No delivery or post office services

Labor Day

First Monday of September, September 2, 2024
Closed for Labour Day long weekend
No mail service

Thanksgiving

Second Monday of October, October 14, 2024
Closed on Thanksgiving Day
No deliveries or post office openings

Christmas and Boxing Day

December 25 and 26 are statutory holidays
Canada Post closed both days
No mail delivery or post office availability either day

So whenever one of these major holidays comes around in 2024, you can expect Canada Post closures with no mail or parcels getting delivered that day.

How Has COVID-19 Impacted Canada Post Hours and Delivery?

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in some changes to Canada Post services:

Enhanced safety measures – Mandatory masks, physical distancing, increased cleaning and sanitization
Potential reduced hours – Some post office locations shortened hours to allow for enhanced cleaning protocols and worker safety
Temporary closures – Certain post office locations had to temporarily close due to COVID-19 exposure or staffing impacts
Increased parcel volumes – Growth in online shopping and package deliveries dramatically increased parcel volumes for Canada Post
Staffing impacts – Isolating employees due to COVID-19 exposure led to occasional short-term closures or service impacts

While service continued across Canada throughout the pandemic, COVID-19 definitely led to closures, reduced hours, and delivery delays in some locations at different times.

Customers should continue to check the Canada Post website or call ahead before visiting to ensure their local office is open and operating on normal hours. Allowing extra time for parcel deliveries is also advised, as volumes remain elevated.

When Should I Expect Mail and Parcel Deliveries Around the Holidays?

Holiday seasons like Christmas and New Year’s see huge parcel volumes. Here’s what to expect:

Weekdays operate as normal for mail and parcels
No mail delivery on weekends or stats
Potential for parcel delivery on Sundays and stats from online shopping
Seasonal delays possible due to high volumes
Check for service alerts if parcels are late

Aim to get holiday mail and gift deliveries out well in advance of December 25th to account for the delays and closures around Christmas and New Year’s.

How Can I Collect My Mail If My Local Post Office Is Closed?

If your regular post office is temporarily closed due to COVID-19, holidays, or unforeseen circumstances, you have a couple options to retrieve your mail:

Canada Post may offer temporary mail redirection to an alternate location that is open
Check if area franchise outlets like Shoppers Drug Mart have post offices open
Inquire about temporary holds until normal operations resume
Call Canada Post to ask about collecting mail during closures

With advance planning, you should be able to collect your held mail or have it redirected. Reach out to Canada Post directly if your regular office is closed for an extended period to make arrangements.

In Conclusion: How to Check Canada Post Hours and Plan Accordingly

When wondering “is Canada Post open today near me?”, keep these tips in mind:

Know the standard hours: 9am-5pm post offices, 9am-8pm delivery weekdays
Confirm holiday closures that suspend services
Check online or call ahead for closures or reduced hours
Allow extra time for parcels around peak delivery seasons
Have mail held or redirected if your local office closes temporarily

With thousands of locations across Canada, hours can vary. Planning ahead based on typical schedules and being prepared for exceptions is key to utilizing Canada Post conveniently and minimizing missed deliveries.

Now that you know their standard open days, closures, and how to check local hours, you can successfully get your important mail and parcels delivered on time.