In a world of instant messages and emojis, writing a physical letter seems almost strange. Yet millions of Canadians are doing exactly that. They are finding pen pals — strangers or friends — and exchanging handwritten letters by mail.
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The proof is in the search data. On Pinterest, the popular visual discovery platform, searches for “pen pals” jumped by 45 percent in 2026 compared to the previous year. Similar growth has been seen on other platforms, where young adults share photos of decorated envelopes, wax seals, and colourful stationery.
Why would anyone choose slow mail over fast text?
The answer, say enthusiasts, is that handwriting feels different. It is deliberate. It takes time. You cannot fire off a letter in two seconds. You have to sit down, think about your words, and commit them to paper. That thoughtfulness makes the message feel more meaningful.
“I have over a hundred unread texts on my phone,” says a university student in Montreal who started pen‑pal writing last year. “But when I get a letter, I stop everything. I make tea. I sit by the window. I read it slowly. Then I write back. It’s completely different.”
The pandemic played a role in reviving letter writing. Isolated and lonely, many people turned to old‑fashioned correspondence as a way to connect. What started as a temporary coping mechanism became a lasting habit.
