Canada Post always had a bit of a dry, tedious reputation in the days I was a wee lad - prone to strikes, slow service, and grouchy people at your local postal outlet.

But times change, and now Canada Post may be ahead of the curve. A few years back they introduced homemade stamps - you could bring a photo of your favourite pooch, for example, and have it turned into legal tender postage stamps. And now
they’re opening shop in Second Life.

Intriguing first, because its a Canadian initiative within the global community of Second Life. And also because if this doesn’t blur the lines of the virtual and real I don’t know what would - the very idea of a “bricks and mortar” delivery company opening up in a virtual world seems like further evidence that the mebrane is no longer intact.

The Canada Post city will include:

… a collection of stores from Canadian and American retailers who participate in Canada Post’s lookbook catalog. The lookbook highlights a selection of products from participating companies, with Canada Post handling the orders and fulfillment for most. Retailers in Maple Grove will include Toys “R” Us, The Shopping Channel, Brookstone, SkyMall, Red Canoe and Everything Olive

The story was initially reported here.