Nanaimo postal workers collecting Santa letters despite strike
Pearson (pictured) said it is important for them to continue the Santa letter tradition as it is a big thing for the community. Photo: Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.fm
Despite an ongoing labour dispute, Nanaimo postal workers are making sure Santa Claus still receives letters from children for Christmas.
It has been 2 weeks since the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) went on a nationwide strike halting mail delivery. As the holiday season comes knocking, this has led many to wonder if the strike will prevent Santa Claus from receiving letters from children.
Shane Lorenz, president of CUPW Local 786 said no strike will stop the holiday magic of Santa receiving his letters.
CHLY met with Lorenz and other postal workers on Terminal Avenue where they have been striking for the last 14 days.
“Santa is not being affected at all by the strike,” Lorenz said.
Lorenz said the tradition of sending letters to Santa, and Santa sending letters back will not be affected by the strike and children are still encouraged to do so.
“So the corporation has given the impression that the Santa Claus letter program has been canceled this year, and that is not true,” he said. “We are accepting Santa Claus letters on all picket lines, and we will be responding to the kids in a timely fashion.”
He explained that although postal workers may be on strike, it will not stop the Santa letter exchange. This year it will just be done a little differently.
“It won't work any differently unless we don't get back to work before Christmas,” he said. “So normally, we would send the letters on our regular routes, but if we're not back to work before Christmas, then we have volunteers that will take their own vehicles and deliver their letters to the houses themselves.”
For children wanting to send letters to Santa, instead of putting the letters in a mailbox, Lorenz said letters can be dropped off at the picket line.
“I know it's a little bit awkward, but we're just encouraging people to come by with their letters and [to] please pull off in a safe manner off the road to drop off your letters,” Lorenz said. “If you want to have a chat with us, we're here to chat as well.”
Volunteers will then make sure Santa receives the letters and will personally deliver the replies from Santa back to the children. Return addresses will need to be on the letters for Santa to write back.
Christina Pearson has been working for Canada Post for 25 years and has been volunteering her time with the Santa letters since she started working for Canada Post.
She said helping with the letters is a joy for her every year.
“It's just Christmas is a really magical time, and even though it's our busiest and hardest time of the year, we get a lot of satisfaction and enjoyment from the children as well, and it helps create memories for them, so we enjoy it,” Pearson said. “It makes our job more satisfying and rewarding.”
She said in a typical year they will do their usual eight-hour shift plus overtime due to the increase in packages during the holiday season. After that shift she will spend around four hours making sure Santa receives everyone’s letters. The work done to help with the letters is all volunteer.
She said she hopes the strike does not have an impact on the number of letters being dropped off.
“So hopefully people can come to our locations and drop the letters off,” Pearson said. “Being that delivery is what we do, we'll make sure that we get them back from Santa and get them out to everybody in a timely manner, well before the holidays, regardless of the work interruption.”
Pearson said it is important for them to continue the Santa letter tradition for the community.
“We're part of the community we live in, the community we work, these are our children. It's our community,” Pearson said.
She said she has already seen some children get excited to drop off their letters. For all the children worried about how the strike could stop Santa from receiving their letters, Pearson said this:
“Oh, Santa will get [the letters], and we'll make sure that he knows and that he's happy,” Pearson said. “Santa knows what everybody truly wants, and that Christmas is about being together and just appreciating the spirit of the holiday.”
Parents and their children are encouraged to drop off their letters to Santa at 140 Terminal Ave from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 1847 E Wellington Rd from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Santa Claus’s mailing address is:
Santa Claus
North Pole
H0H 0H0
Canada
Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.