in Chatsworth, Grey Highlands, Southgate, West Grey
December 18, 2025
BY SOUTHGREY.CA STAFF — Social media is littered with disgruntled rural residents whose mailboxes have been damaged or destroyed by a passing snowplow. It's a never-ending problem in this area of Ontario, where storms and snowfall amounts can reach excessive proportions.
This winter, the open season on mailboxes has started early, as successive storms have blanketed the roads with enough white stuff to keep plows busier than usual.
"With the speed and weight of the snow, our rural mailbox was snapped off at the ground and thrown into the ditch in front of our property," recently complained a Southwest Middlesex resident.
Earlier this year, an Essex County resident took issue with damage done to her mailbox, as reported by the CBC's Kathleen Saylors. ""It's unclear exactly what happened, but the mailboxes in our neighbourhood were all knocked to the ground, torn off their four-by-four posts," she said. "Many of them were cemented into the ground, and they were torn off the cemented post as well," Donaldson said.
"This winter alone, (my mailbox) has already been damaged multiple times," said an unhappy South Bruce resident."I repair or replace it, follow every instruction given to me by the town, clear snow as requested — and it still gets hit again and again."
Despite the efforts of these and many other Ontario snowplow victims to solicit accountability from their municipalities, the mailbox carnage continues to wreck havoc and be ill-compensated.
But the general consensus among municipalities is that residents whose mailboxes were damaged or destroyed by a plow blade may be entitled to some compensation. However, if damage was caused by the impact of heavy snow from a plow as it passes by, no compensation is necessarily given. And proof of culpability may be required. "Usually a paint mark or truck tire tracks supply evidence of an actual strike," said one residential property warrior.
In response to the South Bruce resident mentioned above, Stu Moffat, Manager of Operations for South Bruce explained, "The mailbox was not properly attached to the post and the post appeared to have been modified, making it structurally compromised." He added "The operator indicated that snow is being piled around the mailbox." According to Moffat, properly blown snow will make the mailbox "accessible for your mail delivery person and make it more visible for our operators." But the complainant continues to be unsatisfied.
As most municipalities do, South Bruce has a comprehensive set of guidelines for the location and erection of rural mailboxes. They sum up their liability for damage, saying, "The Municipality will replace or repair mailboxes and mountings if, in the opinion of the Public Works Department, damage resulted from an act of carelessness on the part of the Municipality. Replacements will be made if the damage is caused only by contact with the plow itself."
The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry put it this way, "Winter brings with it a specific set of challenges with respect to ensuring county roads are free of snow and ice for safe use by the motoring public, while also keeping rural mailboxes protected from the elements and snow-clearing operations. Mailboxes which are inadequately constructed, weathered, or improperly affixed to a post may be damaged by snow thrown from a plow. Residents are responsible for the repair and replacement of mailboxes unless they are directly hit by a snow plow blade."
According to Canada Post, "The proper placement and maintenance of rural mailboxes ensures continued safe delivery of mail by Canada Post. Please consult with your local post office to ensure that all mailbox specifications and road safety criteria are met before installing a rural box. Your local postal official can answer any questions you have about rural mail delivery."
Do you have a story about a damaged or destroyed mailbox? Was your municipality receptive to your complaint? Let us know.
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