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Research in Other Countries => Canada => Canada Lookup Request => Topic started by: Peter Bathe on Tuesday 03 May 11 11:20 BST (UK)

Title: Modern address in Quebec
Post by: Peter Bathe on Tuesday 03 May 11 11:20 BST (UK)
Hi
Can anyone help, please?

I have being trying to contact a distant relation in Quebec. I got his address from an on-line directory, but my letters to him are returned as "address incomplete"

I have a number of the street, the name of the street, the town (Saint-Laurent), the province (Quebec) and a postcode/zipcode with the format

letter/number/letter space number/letter/number

What am I missing? ???

many thanks
Title: Re: Modern address in Quebec
Post by: polarbear on Tuesday 03 May 11 15:26 BST (UK)
That s/b all you need unless there is also an apartment or unit number that is not in the directory. You could try adding Montreal to the rest of the info. Have you considered telephoning instead of writing?

Regards
Polarbear
Title: Re: Modern address in Quebec
Post by: RunKitty on Tuesday 03 May 11 15:54 BST (UK)
Hi,

The same thing happened to me when I sent a Christmas card to a friend in a condominium building in Toronto.  I forgot to add the apartment number and the card was returned to me as "Address Incomplete".   

In Ontario, an entire apartment building/condominium will have the same postal code.  To be specific, you have to add the apartment number in addition to the street address.  I expect the same holds true for Quebec.  (In the USA, that is not the case - with their 5 digits plus 4 zip codes.  The "plus 4" digits refer to a few apartments in a building, not the entire building).   

Have you "Google Earthed" the address to see if it is a multi unit building?   

RK

ADDED - Canada Post Glossary:
http://www.canadapost.ca/tools/pg/glossary-e.asp
Title: Re: Modern address in Quebec
Post by: Peter Bathe on Tuesday 03 May 11 22:14 BST (UK)
Thanks for your suggestions guys.

It would appear that the address is for an apartment block so I obviously need the apartment number - although, as the chap's been living there for many years, you'd expect the mailman to know who is who in a building and deliver the letter with the rest of the mail addressed to him.

I would phone but I'm in France - which makes timing difficult. In any case, one never knows how people would react to a call out of the blue, which is why I wanted to write.

I shall have to try to find the apartment number - but thanks for your help

Title: Re: Modern address in Quebec
Post by: Lisa in California on Tuesday 03 May 11 22:30 BST (UK)
I wonder if sending mail addressed to the manager of the building might work?  Your fellow's envelope could be inside the envelope addessed to the manager?

My son lives in an apartment building in our town and they have a manager who lives in same building.  She knows everyone in the building and their unit numbers.
Title: Re: Modern address in Quebec
Post by: Jacquie in Canada on Tuesday 03 May 11 23:08 BST (UK)
although, as the chap's been living there for many years, you'd expect the mailman to know who is who in a building and deliver the letter with the rest of the mail addressed to him.

I've lived in my house for 10 years and have probably had 10 different letter carriers during that time. With the number of people on a route and depending on how big the apartment building is it isn't surprising that the letter couldn't be delivered.
Title: Re: Modern address in Quebec
Post by: polarbear on Wednesday 04 May 11 14:32 BST (UK)
The thought crossed my mind that if it was a small building you could try adding something like 'Apartment 2' and hope it was delivered to that apartment and then perhaps get passed on by his neighbor.

Polarbear
Title: Re: Modern address in Quebec
Post by: chinakay on Thursday 05 May 11 07:08 BST (UK)
I think they're not trying very hard any more :(
Title: Re: Modern address in Quebec
Post by: Peter Bathe on Thursday 05 May 11 07:18 BST (UK)
Going through old copies of the Lovell directory, it would appear that there are at least 60 apartments in the block - so it is little surprise that the postman isn't that keen on "incomplete" addresses.

Sadly, though, none of the directories give any apartment numbers for any resident.

However, there does appear to be a management office listed for the block, so I will take up your suggestion, Lisa, and send again enclosed in another envelope to the management company.
Title: Re: Modern address in Quebec
Post by: susano on Thursday 05 May 11 07:23 BST (UK)
Have you searched for the address on both www.canada411.ca and www.whitepages.ca?  I was hoping that the apartment number might be included in the entry on one of these sites?

Susan
Title: Re: Modern address in Quebec
Post by: Peter Bathe on Thursday 05 May 11 07:47 BST (UK)
Thanks for those suggestions, Susan, but neither give the apartment number

canada411 just gives the street number, whitepages just gives the street!
Title: Re: Modern address in Quebec
Post by: susano on Thursday 05 May 11 07:58 BST (UK)
Any luck that a reverse lookup with the phone number will return a more complete address?  I'm grasping at straws now!!

Susan
Title: Re: Modern address in Quebec
Post by: Peter Bathe on Thursday 05 May 11 08:50 BST (UK)
Alas, no - but thanks for the suggestion
Title: Re: Modern address in Quebec
Post by: Jacquie in Canada on Thursday 05 May 11 22:39 BST (UK)
Have you tried to do a straight google of the person's name to see if you can find some information? Maybe the person is on Facebook or MySpace.