Santa pays unexpected visit to confirm postal elves are ready for children's
letters

More than one million letters to be answered within the next five weeks

OTTAWA, Nov. 22 /CNW/ - With less than five weeks to go before Christmas, Canada Post confirmed today that Santa has visited various post offices across Canada to ensure that postal elves are ready to help answer the letters and emails sent by children from around the world. For the 29^th consecutive year, more than 11,000 volunteer postal elves are ready to answer what is anticipated to be over a million letters in more than 30 different languages, including Braille. 

"Santa told us that many boys and girls have been extra good this year so he's pleased that his postal elves have sharpened their pencils to help answer all the letters coming from children in Canada and the world," says a Canada Post official speaking on behalf of Mr. Claus. "Pencils, papers, envelopes, stamps and elves - everything and everyone are ready."

Since 1982, Santa's Post Office has answered more than 18.5 million letters. In 2002, emails were introduced and since then, more than 300,000 emails have been answered directly. 

"As Santa finalizes his list and just before he checks it twice, he is asking us to let all the children know to send their letter as soon as possible to ensure he can answer in time," adds the representative of Mr. Claus. Children are reminded to include their complete return address when they send their letters to Santa to ensure a reply. Letters to Santa should be addressed to:

SANTA CLAUS
NORTH POLE H0H 0H0
CANADA

E-mails can be sent to Santa through a special website at www.canadapost.ca/santascorner.

The Canada Post Santa Letter Writing Program is an employee-led volunteer initiative that supports literacy by encouraging children to write letters to Santa and by promoting correct addressing and use of the postal code.

For further information:

Media Relations - National
613 734-8888
[email protected]

Western Canada
604-662-1388

Ontario (except Toronto)
519-457-5282
613-734-2811

GTA
905-214-9502

Quebec
514-345-4572

Atlantic
902-494-4074