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Chris Heil of St. Thomas, Ont., wrote letters to his wife years ago when cellphones were too expensive and he was out West pursuing his education.
He recalls how much can be said with just a letter and the anticipation one feels while waiting for a response.
Now, Heil is hard at work channelling letter writing into a unique business he started with his son.
“Back in August 2025, we noticed a growing desire for meaningful, screen-free entertainment and something that feels personal,” said Heil.
The business, Once Upon a Letter, tells stories that let readers peer through a window into the lives of fictional characters from the outside in, conveyed through the mail they send.
“What started as a creative side project quickly evolved into a full-fledged storytelling venture,” Heil said.
He added that when his son, Zachary Paquin, was laid off from a job working Alberta’s oilsands, the two agreed it was something they had to try.
Each customer who subscribes to the service receives one letter every two weeks for an entire year.
The latest story, a romance set during the last year of the Second World War II, follows the correspondence between Edward Bennett, a Canadian soldier sent to aid in the liberation of Europe, and his wife Margaret, who lives in Halifax.
“It’s told in the first person,” Heil said. “It’s basically letters between Edward and his wife, Maggie. They’re sending letters back and forth about their lives and the things they experience.”
In the same envelope, the letter is accompanied by photographs and additional reading, including historical facts about the period.
For example, a preview letter that’s available to prospective customers frames itself as a note left by Edward for Maggie before he leaves for war.
“I may already be gone, but know that my heart remains here with you,” the letter reads. “Light your candle in the window as you promised, and I will find my way back to it.”
With one story available now, more are coming.
One is a horror story told through letters written by an archaeologist in Egypt. The other comes in the form of letters written by Richard Dawson, an Ontario farmer who, due to financial hardship, left home to work on the Canadian Pacific Railway in the Canadian West.
Writing letters is challenging, but rewarding
For Heil and Paquin, stepping into the shoes of these characters and writing letters in their voices has been a new and interesting challenge. The collaborative effort includes extensive proofreading and review from friends and family.
“It’s not really just one of us writing it. It goes out to a lot of people, and we take all of their suggestions [into account]. It takes a bit of time to come up with a good story,” Paquin said.
Those stories have been well received, according to the duo, especially by the older demographic, which grew up writing letters and, in many cases, still does.
“We’re trying to go heavy on the Canadian content and we’ve seen a lot of interested people. I think through, and even past the Christmas season, we’ll continue to see a lot of new people using this as a gift for any occasion,” Paquin said.
Despite the Canadian focus, there’s been interest south of the border as well, Paquin said, with people from the United States contacting them to ask whether they ship internationally.
Expansion is certainly something the duo is considering in the new year.
