Postal Code

An alphanumeric code used by some postal services to identify addresses more simply. The US uses the five digit Zip Code while Canada uses an alphanumeric six caracter code of the form A1A 1A1 (where A represents any letter and 1 represents any digit).

Canadian Postal Code specifications:

The first segment (A1A) is called the Forward Sortation Area or FSA, the second segment (1A1) is called Local Delivery Unit -- LDU.

The first letter of the FSA is as follows:

• A Newfoundland and Labrador
• B Nova Scotia
• C Prince Edward Island
• E New Brunswick
• G Eastern Quebec (East of Montreal)
• H Greater Montreal Area
• J Western Quebec (West of Montreal)
• K Eastern Ontario (including Ottawa)
• L Greater Toronto Area
• M Metropolitan Toronto
• N Southern Ontario (including Windsor)
• P Western Ontario (Timmins, Sault-Ste-Marie, Sudbury...)
• R Manitoba
• S Saskatchewan
• T Alberta
• V British Columbia
• Y Yukon
• X Northwest Territories and Nunavut

The middle digit of the FSA is also used to distinguish between an urban X(1..9)X or rural X0X postal code.

The third letter of the FSA is a further geographical subdivision of the codes listed above.

An complete urban code resolves to one side of a city block (even/odd addresses), one building or one large organisation. A rural code designates a post office serving one or more villages and surrounding counties.

The special code H0H 0H0 designates Santa Claus' post office (it is not part of the Greater Montreal Area)