First Aerial Postal Service Created in 1924
During the 1920s, a number of aviation companies were formed in Canada, and were
authorized by the Ministry of Postal Services to transport personal and corporate
mail. Each company had its own identification stamp, and issued a special stamp for
transporting commercial mail for destinations inaccessible to regular postal service
and boats. Such companies worked on contract under the close supervision of postal
authorities.
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Laurentide Air Service Curtiss HS-2L hydroplane
Courtesy of National Aviation Museum, 1491
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Forestry and mining companies soon realized the potential of aviation. Planes capable
of flying over the North's vast forest areas could be used to patrol and help prevent
forest fires, as well as to map out new territories.
Laurentide Air Service (LAS) was the first company to transport mail to the booming
mining region of Rouyn. A private initiative, approved by the Ministry of Postal Services,
LAS guaranteed regular aerial postal service between Haileybury in Ontario and
Rouyn/Angliers in Quebec. Because the mail had to be marked "airmail," LAS issued a
special postage stamp showing the company's name and the wording Special Air Delivery.
The stamp was worth 25 cents, and was placed on the back of the envelope to avoid
confusion with the official stamp.