Surviving a Canadian Winter

Surviving a Canadian Winter,

A how-to guide on getting familiar with living with a lot of snow in Canada.

You have probably heard of the great north where land is covered by snow for a good part of the year. Yes, Canada, Canada has been a subject of discussion for a lot of foreigners that consider moving there. They expect to have some adaptation regarding the cold but they often don’t think about the amount of snow. As beautiful as snow can be, it can most often also make life difficult in a huge amount.

Since Canada is huge, a lot of areas can be warmer than others, but in the vast majority of places it is expected to experience snow for about four to five months which compels Canadians to change certain lifestyles for the winter season. This is why, when living in Canada, it is important to know which measures to take in order to stay safe and enjoy winter.

1. Dressing appropriately is imperative.

When having snow it’s important to dress appropriately to prevent getting a frostbite. Snow pants, coat, mittens, scarfs, and additional layers are recommended as the cold temperature can drop as low as -35 degrees Celsius. For a lot of people, even when they are wearing warm clothes it is possible to still be cold. When that happens there are heating pads available to put in your mittens and boots. It is also possible to place them in different areas but those are the most popular ones. Despite dressing appropriately, there is still a risk of getting cold which is why most people take their cars to go places.

2. Having extreme caution on the road is crucial.

After taking care of being well dressed, it’s time to look at the dangers on the roads. During the summer cars are easier to drive and the breaks are more effective. Although, during the winter, even the greatest of cars will have a bad traction. First and foremost, the summer tires have to be replaced in mid November by winter tires. Despite southern rumours, Canadian winter tires do not consist of putting chains around it to prevent sliding. On the contrary, winter tires use some special screws specifically designed to go in the tires. If we look closely to those tires we can see some bright dots coming slightly out of the tires. Depending on the brand, different materials can be used to make winter tires. After changing the tires, the wipers are recommended to be changed for the winter. The only ones that can stay on the car are usually double seasons. These wipers can be used for winter as much as summer giving them extra protection against harsh and cold weather. On average, most people will buy summer wipers and change for winter wipers when the time comes.

While on the road, if you are walking, be sure to always be careful to have good boots in order to stay stable on the ice. Yes, sometimes there will be ice under the snow which can trick people into slipping. In addition, being aware of your surroundings is even more important during the winter since cars can also slide off the road and hit pedestrians. If on the other hand you are the one driving, ensure to be careful when you break. Even if your car is well equipped make sure to press slightly on the breaks in a repetitive motion. If you press only once and hard your car will start spinning. Other preventive measures on the road can be taken beforehand such as taking the snow off of the car along with the ice to have a good view on the road. While applying all those safety measures, it is less likely to have an accident.

3. Practicing a winter sport is recommended.

Winter is cold and it’s hard to go places but with winter sports it can make you look over all the flaws of a Canadian winter. There are many sports you can practice during winter such as ice skating, snowshoeing, skiing, hockey, snowboarding, sliding, and more. All of those mentioned prior are the most popular practiced in Canada. Going outside does not take away the cold but it definitely gets one out of the house and to do some exercise. Throughout Canada are amazing resorts, most of them offer good prices. They also give you a wonderful view at the snowy mountains and a spa to relax in after a long day.

4. Finding indoor hobbies is a must.

Despite all of the benefits of going outside some people are simply not interested in the cold weather at all. In most cases, during the winter Canadians spend most of their time inside, which can get boring after a while. That is why having indoor hobbies is also a good way to get through winter. It could be playing a musical instrument, drawing, going to the gym, playing indoor sports, etc. Nonetheless, even if one has nothing to do inside while snow is falling outside it is always soothing to drink a cup of tea, hot chocolate, or coffee while watching TV.

In all, there are many ways to survive a Canadian winter. Despite all of its danger, winter can still be relatively safe if most of the points above are followed. The most important is to enjoy it as winter stays around for a while every year in Canada.