Father-Son Team Brings Letter Writing to Life

Chris Heil from St. Thomas, Ont., used to write letters to his wife back when cellphones were pricey and he was studying out West.

He remembers how much you can express in a letter and the excitement of waiting for a reply.

Now, Heil is busy turning letter writing into a special business he launched with his son.

“Back in August 2025, we noticed people wanting meaningful, screen-free fun that feels personal,” said Heil.

The business, Once Upon a Letter, creates stories that allow readers to glimpse into the lives of fictional characters through their letters.

“What began as a creative side project quickly grew into a full storytelling venture,” Heil explained.

He noted that after his son, Zachary Paquin, lost his job in Alberta’s oilsands, they decided it was worth trying out.

Every subscriber receives one letter every two weeks for an entire year.

A still from a video created by Once Upon a Letter that shows off the packaging of the letters and an example of the various items included in the envelopes. (Once Upon a Letter)

The latest story is a romance set during the final year of World War II and follows Edward Bennett, a Canadian soldier helping liberate Europe, as he writes to his wife Margaret back home in Halifax.

“It’s told in the first person,” Heil said. “It’s basically letters between Edward and his wife, Maggie. They’re sharing their lives and experiences through their correspondence.”

The letter comes along with photographs and extra reading materials like historical facts about that time period.

For instance, there’s a sample letter available for potential customers that’s written as if it’s left by Edward for Maggie before he goes off to 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 ready now, more are on the way.

One story is horror-themed and told through letters written by an archaeologist in Egypt. Another features Richard Dawson, an Ontario farmer who had to leave home due to money troubles and ended up working on the Canadian Pacific Railway out West.

Writing letters presents challenges but offers rewards

For Heil and Paquin, stepping into these characters’ shoes while writing has been both challenging and exciting. Their teamwork involves lots of proofreading and input from friends and family.

“It’s not just one person writing it. We share it with many people who give us feedback [and we consider all their suggestions]. It takes time to craft a great story,” Paquin noted.

The stories have received positive feedback especially from older audiences who grew up writing letters themselves or still do today.

“We’re focusing heavily on Canadian content which has attracted plenty of interest. I think throughout Christmas season-and beyond-we’ll see many new folks using this as gifts for different occasions,” Paquin shared.

Even though they’re centered on Canada, there’s been interest from across the border too; Paquin mentioned people from the United States reaching out about international shipping options.

The duo is definitely thinking about expansion plans for next year!

Source link