There’s nothing quite like a sheet of outdoor ice to bring out your inner Canadian.
Whether it’s a naturally frozen pond or a lovingly groomed community rink, outdoor skating in the winter can connect you to your inner child like few other outdoor activities can. I should know – I strapped on my skates for the first time this winter last week to do a few laps on the neighbourhood rink and my smile was as contagious as the drippy-nosed kids who were skating circles around me.
Mother Nature doesn’t always cooperate when it comes to supplying the necessary weather conditions to ensure a thick pad of outdoor ice all winter. In Ottawa, for example, warm December and January weather last year skuttled any hope of skating on the Rideau Canal, an annual ritual for thousands of locals and visitors to the nation’s capital. Changing climate patterns across the country often challenge the notion of Canada being “The Great White North” and experiencing an avalanche of snow coast to coast the moment winter arrives. The reality is there can be three feet of November snow in Calgary while residents of Niagara are still barbecuing. That said, there’s still reason to enjoy the “thrill of the chill” when temperatures across Canada drop below zero.
The Thrill of the Chill
Maintaining a connection to nature is one of the biggest reasons to go outside and bask in the frigid glory of a Canadian winter. There are walking trails to hike, ski trails to traverse, toboggan runs to enjoy, forests to explore and all kinds of active wildlife to see. For fans of the iNaturalist app, winter is a great time to track bird observations in forests barren of leaves or to collect sound recordings of those species that prefer to stick around.
The fact is hibernation is not an option for humans; we’re a four-season species despite the annual migration of some Canadian snowbirds to warmers climes. For those of us who prefer to stay in Canada, getting outside is also a way to avoid the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression related to changes in the season – most commonly through the winter months. After all, it’s hard to be depressed when you’re strapped to a snowboard catching air off the top of a hill full of moguls or using the snow to make “maple taffy” with good old Canadian maple syrup.
To inspire you to get outside, the Canadian Wildlife Federation invites you to visit Below Zero. Here you’ll find a variety of resources designed to foster a deeper appreciation for the joys of a Canadian winter.
- A list of 50 fun things to do outside with family and friends
- Educational videos from Indigenous storyteller Dickie Yuzikapi extolling the virtues of traditional outdoor games enjoyed in First Nations communities
- Links to Hinterland Who’s Who videos to help you learn more about wildlife in winter
Let’s hear it for winter – the coolest season of the year both figuratively and literally! Now get out there and have some fun!
Learn more about CWF’s WILD Education >
David DeRocco
David DeRocco is a former journalist and author of 14 educational books including the ESL titles Canada: Eh to Zed, America On Edge, and From Sea to Sea to Sea: A Newcomer’s Guide to Canada. He currently serves as CWF’s Senior Manager of Marketing and Events.
