Where on earth do you get your information from?

First, it's impossible to talk about Canada as a whole in respect to winter. It's one of the biggest countries on earth. The climate varies from east to west and from north to south. Can children freeze to death in minutes??? Maybe in the extreme far north if they recorded the coldest day in 100 years and the kids weren't dressed properly. Maybe. Besides, 99% of emigrants don't go live in the far north.

But seriously, my kids LOVE winter and spend countless hours playing outside in the snow. We live in Southern Ontario close to Toronto. There is daily snow on the ground from late December to middle of March. You get some snow (and melting again) from November. Last snow falls by late March. Yes it's a cold climate but not as bad as some make it out to be. Only January and February are stupid cold.

Summer is usually very hot and humid (June to August). Early fall is mild (September to mid October); late fall is cold. Early Spring (March & April) is cold but feels mild after a long cold winter. May is usually nice enough.

That's my take - and I'm born and raised in Africa.