'Feels like family:' 2 postal workers say goodbye

For the last six years, Kelly Gil has delivered mail to about 800 homes a day in London's Old East Village.

Her route can be gruelling. Up to 18 kilometresa day, through an obstacle course of gates, stairs and dozens ofdogs, many of whom surprise, surprise don't love mail carriers.

• LISTEN: Two mail carriers say farewell

You would think she would need to speed through her route to get it all done.

But on Gil's last day, as is the case every day at work, she stops to chat with as many people as possible. She's the mail carrier who asks you how you are, and listens intently to the answer.

"Out of the 800 homes I go to, I know 750 of them personally," said Gil. "And even the ones that moved away, I still keep in contact with them."

When news that Canada Post was changing the routes of Gil and other longtime mail carrier Philip Oskirko to locations outside the neighbourhood, residents in London's Old East Village were gutted.

A swell of well wishes and cryingemojiswas the response to their post on the community's Facebook page.

A farewell on the final day of deliveries

William Cole, who also goes by Skip, said Gil has been like a sister to him.

"She's everyone's family in this neighbourhood," said Cole.

"She was there when my mom passed away . My day isn't complete until I see Kelly and we say 'hi.'"

Like Gil, Philip Oskirko has also been delivering mail to the neighbourhood for six years.

Both postal workers said it's the norm for Canada Post to change mail carriers' routes every few years and they feel lucky to work in the area for as long as they have.

During that time, Oskirko has become close with many of the people along his route.

"They've become really good friends, a support system. We confide in each other," said Oskirko.

Oskirko has even been nicknamed 'Super Phil.'

Joanne Bishop explains it's because Oskirko chased down a man who was trying to break into a truck in the neighbourhood.

"He went leaps and bounds to stop him," said Bishop.

"I'm going to miss the heck out of you," she tells Oskirko, tears in her eyes.

Mail carriers 2.0

Gil and Oskirko didn't know what of the role of the mail carrier would look like after the crown corporation announced four years ago it would scrap door-to-door delivery in favour of community mailboxes.

The decision was then reversed under the current federal government, although those with community mailboxes won't have service restored.

Gil and Oskirko feel the most important aspect of their role is that face-to-face connection with the community.

And considering text messages and email are the communication currency of our time, they say in-person contact has never been more important.

"We see these people every day. We watch them, their lives change. We watch them grow, have babies," said Gill.

"It feels like family."