Think about holiday mail

Canada Post reminds everyone the holiday season is fast approaching and it's time to start thinking about seasonal mailings.

Letters, cards and parcels destined for Central/South America and Africa should be mailed by Nov. 27. Holiday mail destined for Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the Caribbean, Europe and the United States, should be posted by Dec. 8.

Cards, letters and parcels for delivery within Canada should be mailed by the dates listed below.

Cards and letters:

Urban Centres

Local: Dec. 20

Within B.C.: Dec. 20

National: Dec. 18

Regular parcels destined for major urban centres should be mailed by Dec. 11, parcels being sent to non-major centres should be mailed by Dec. 8 and parcels for delivery in northern regions and remote centres should be posted by Nov. 27.

Need more time to get your packages ready? No problem.

Canada Post offers several options (for every budget and speed requirement) to ensure your gifts and greetings arrive on time for the holidays - even if it's just days before the big day.

Visit www.canadapost.ca/holiday for information on different services and options, tips on proper packaging and other important holiday information.

Tips from the postmaster

Here are some safety issues that postal workers face daily, along with some tips to inform the community what they can do to help before the snow flies.

Repair all broken stairs, and smooth out bricks, flagstones and uneven surfaces that can cause falls.

Railings on stairways need attention, as carriers are required to hold handrails as they go up and down staircases.

Remove leaves from walkways and stairs. Wet leaves cause slips, trips and falls.

Repair mailboxes, or install new ones suitable to handle up to 10 pieces of mail including letters, magazines and newspapers.

Mail slots on doors must meet specific criteria: The clear rectangular opening in the outside slot plate must be at least one-and-a-half inches wide and 7 inches long and it must be at least 30 inches above the finished floor line.

Light porches.