Canada Post is urging customers to plan ahead with parcel shipments as they prepare for their busiest Christmas season yet.
Danielle Doiron, director of parcels and market development for Canada Post, says last year alone they shipped roughly 36-million parcels during the months of November and December.
"We're expecting to surpass that this year by about 20 per-cent," says Doiron.
December 14 is typically the busiest day of the Christmas Season for Canada Post and according to Doiron, this year will be no different.
"So imagine, our busiest day, December 14, and every minute during that day we're expecting to be delivering 3,400 parcels," says Doiron. "I've been at Canada Post for 15 years now, and I can tell you that we are expecting our busiest Christmas season yet."
Doiron says an increase in online shopping has given consumers more choices, especially concerning how and when purchased items are delivered.
"The good thing about online shopping now is many merchants will allow you to purchase an item online, have it gift wrapped and then delivered directly to your loved one or the recipient wherever they reside across the country," says Doiron.
The deadline dates for shipping are December 11 for regular parcel; December 22 using XpressPost; and December 23 by Priority Post.
The deadline dates for sending Christmas cards are December 17 outside the province; December 18th within the province; and December 21 for local delivery.