Montreal

West Island man vows to keep fighting Canada Post's community mailboxes

Homeowners living on Montreal’s West Island just got their keys to their brand new Canada Post community mailboxes — but one Dorval man says he vows to keep fighting the move.

When Hans Dybka found out community mailboxes were on the way, he dumped a pile of dirt to halt installation

Dorval resident Hans Dybka says he will keep fighting to try to restore door-to-door mail delivery. (CBC)

Homeowners living on Montreal's West Island just got their keys to their brand new Canada Post community mailboxes — but one Dorval man says he vows to keep fighting the move.

Canada Post first announced in December 2013 it would be winding down urban door-to-door mail delivery.

When Dorval resident Hans Dybka found out last April that a community mailbox was going to be set up right near his house, he set up scaffolding and dumped a pile of dirt there to prevent Canada Post from building the boxes.

"We were shocked, we were disappointed, we were angry," Dybka said.

"We were worried about the devaluation of our property. Forty-seven people coming by every day or every second day, driving on the lawn. It would have been an inconvenience."

Canada Post says the installation of community mailboxes on the West Island is "progressing well." (CBC)
Some of Dybka's neighbours are also worried about the safety of seniors and people with reduced mobility during the winter months.

Canada Post told CBC that many people are warming up to the idea of the community mailboxes.

"I will be honest, it is not unanimous and some people are not accepting the change, but overall the installation of the boxes on the West Island is progressing well. It is more challenging in some areas than others, but there is an openness generally from residents," said Canada Post spokeswoman Anick Losier.

Resident Bruno Romano is upset that Canada Post is cutting door-to-door delivery, but not slashing its prices.

Canada Post recently announced that starting in January, the price of a domestic stamp will go from 85 cents to 90 cents when bought in a booklet.

"I feel like our postage should be a little bit less now. We should pay less for something but that never happens. You never pay less for anything. They just take stuff from us and cut jobs," Romano said.

Dorval Mayor Edgar Rouleau agrees.

"It's going to cost us more with less services. The City of Dorval, we've been against this since the beginning."

Several Montreal-area municipalities are fighting in court to try to restore door-to-door delivery.