New hours, parcel pickup options at Iqaluit post office ahead of Christmas rush

Canada Post is gearing up for the increased volume of parcels during the holiday mailing season by expanding their service in Iqaluit.

"With e-commerce and everything growing, parcel volumes are very, very high," says Aurelie Walsh, a spokesperson for Canada Post.

"This holiday season we are expecting to have a record number. We are looking to deliver seven million more parcels than we did last year Canada wide."

To help deal with that increased volume, the Iqaluit post office will be open one hour longer every weekday before Christmas as well as Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. until December 17.

The post office is also opening a second parcel pickup location at house 760, just down the street from the post office for the month of December.

The Iqaluit post office is also increasing the work hours of part-time employees for the holiday season.

Less waiting in line

In time for the holiday season the Iqaluit office has also finished renovations that are intended to reduce wait times.

"Now there are 103 parcel compartments where parcels with no signatures can be directly delivered," says Walsh.

Customers can pick up the key from their own lock box and self-serve the pickup so they don't have to wait in line.

The post office has also added more post office boxes as well as expanded the number of service counters from three to four.