The "counterfoil" is simply a travel visa that allows you to board a plane to Canada (for citizens of countries who need visas to visit Canada). You do not have PR status until you complete your "landing" and have your COPR validated by a visa officer.
Presently there are 3 ways to do this:
1) Leave Canada and complete your landing at a point of entry when you return. If you fly, you will need that counterfoil visa to return to Canada. You can also land at the border by traveling to the USA and back, or by "flagpoling". There are many threads on flagpoling, you can search that, no need to repeat that here.
2) Make an appointment at an inland office to land. Unless you live in one of the major cities that has one of these offices, you will still have to travel.
3) There is a pilot project to do this by telephone. You don't get to chose this, however - it is by invitation only.
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/pilot-project-confirm-selected-in-canada-permanent-residents-telephone.html