Extra staff at Iqaluit post office's smooths Christmas crush

Nunavut's busiest post office got a few extra helpers this holiday season, asIqaluimmiutcame out in droves this year to get Christmas gifts on and off Baffin Island.

Since November, the staff at theIqaluitpost office have worked overtime on Thursdays andFridays, along with Saturday shifts, to deal with the increased volume.

Canada Post also hired seven seasonal employees and brought in a temporary postmaster for theholidays since the position is vacant.

"The staff have been coming in before work, they're coming in after work. They're cutting theirlunch breaks in half and we have extra staff coming in," said DeniseEccles, the acting postmaster.

"We just feel like we have our own children waiting to open their gifts, and we're Santa."

The effort hasn't gone unnoticed by customers.

"The service has been great.Most years you have it in your mind that it's almost a writeoff aroundChristmastime," saidIqaluitresident Andy Burns, adding the service this Christmas has been thebest in 10 years.

"For them to pay attention to our needs is really appreciated."

Edith Sweetwater, another customer,foundthe wait times were shorter the weekbeforeChristmas than previously.

"I think they stepped it up this week. It's so great."

'A significant increase'

Canada Post says theynormally serve between 150 and 300 customers per day at theIqaluitpostoffice, but since mid-November the volume has skyrocketedup to 1,000 customers per day.

"It's a significant increase," saidEugeneKnapika spokesperson for Canada Post. "It was prettyclear we had significantly more than usual volumes, particularly with parcels coming in, and wewanted to be sure we could accommodate that."

The post office has often been criticized for slow wait times often between 20to 45 minutes throughout the year.There's no home delivery inNunavut'scapitaland everyonehas to wait in line to pick up parcels.

Canada Post audited the post office box system inIqaluitthis summer, trying to find ways toalleviate the high number of deserted boxes, which left those unable to get a box forced to get mailthrough general delivery.