The last word on Canadian Winters

[deebrazen]

Originally Posted by mcd1203

I thought I would check on the Canadian forum as my family and I are from Canada living abroad in UAE. My husband is from New Brunswick (moncton area) and I'm from Calgary, AB. Lived in Calgary all my life. We have to say we miss the snow and yes part of the cold winters.
You do adjust or you just make adjustments. Make sure you plug your cars in overnight if you leave them outside. Park them in your garage if you can. Newer cars will start in the -30 if not plugged in but will take a bit to get them started. We had our son Dec. 2007 and it was one of our bad cold snaps in Calgary. It was tough but we made sure that we had the bag for the carseat which are quite warm and then just added extra blankets.
For Ray..... Calgary is lovely. It was great because we would get chinooks which is change in winds over the mountains which can dramatically change the weather from -20 to +10.
Hint for your house... when it hits -40 with windchill place blankets on the floor of your front/back doors. It will help keep out some of the cold and frost. And let your car run for at least 15 mins in those cold snaps.

Thx for this Alberta update. I am new to this site but not to things Canada. Alberta is my favorite 'place of thought' when it comes to my migration plan. All the tips are handy. Cheers...

[royanu]

Originally Posted by piper

Hey,
I'm from Canada, and I will say: yep, it's cold allright. I go for morning jogs (yes, even in -30 temps) and I have to stop and thaw my eyelashes because they freeze shut. There are days when children have to stay inside from the cold and play cards in the school gym instead of enjoying the Canadian outdoors.
I love Canada, even its winters. But I must say that I get rather cheery when I see the first robins searching the frozen grounds for grubs and when I see the welcoming flying "V" of the geese returning to our lakes!
Happy Spring!

Hello Piper, are you in NZ now? When did you move there? How is NZ treating you so far? (I am thinking to do the same...)

[paulmarkf]

Originally Posted by Deeana

Honestly guys, let's get this straight. There is no way Canadian winters can be described as anything other than cold. Harsh even. You may enjoy snow, enjoy winter sports, enjoy freezing standing in a bus queue, but get this. IT IS VERY COLD IN CANADA IN THE WINTER. PERIOD.
Vancouver area is the exception, and the ONLY exception. There, it rains instead.
I am putting this up as a sticky, because nine trillion people have asked the same question. YES IT IS DAMN COLD IN CANADA IN THE WINTER.
If it wasn't there would be more than 30 million people over there. The country would be FULL UP.
It's a great country. Absolutely FULL of nature. Full of great people, great sport, great everything. BUT IT IS VERY COLD IN WINTER.
READ THIS. It is cold enough to freeze your hair solid if you come out of the pool with damp hair. Cold enough to keep a frozen turkey on the deck for weeks before Christmas if it doesn't fit in your freezer. Cold enough to freeze your car radiator as you drive up the highway at 70 mph.
By the way, people who come from Winnipeg call it WINTERPEG because the winters are cold and endless. Children freeze to death if they escape from their houses and wander across to the neighbours in the middle of the day. Within minutes. This is true, not an urban myth.
DON'T LET THIS PUT YOU OFF. But don't go there thinking it will be all sunny, crisp wintery days like we get after a snowfall in England. And don't think it will be like Scotland, or Yorkshire or anywhere in the UK. It won't be. It will often be gray with snow for days and days on end. It can snow continuously for a week or more at a time.
This year Calgarians were complaining on the radio about the bad weather - first time I heard that. The roads weren't being properly cleared. The weather was bad and getting worse, and not lifting like it usually does.
Please don't reply to this mail saying it's not that bad. You can pretend all you like. I happen to believe it is better to realise what you are getting into and deal with it, rather than stick your head in the sand.

Well, we just arrived from Ireland two weeks ago, moved to Saskatoon, the weather wasn't sooo bad, until yesterday that is, I walked our daughter to school, for her first day, the school is about one mile away, well have you ever walked down the road, and after five minutes, even though you are well wrapped up, your eyelashes freeze together, when we arrived at the school, we were advised it was -30 outside with the wind chill, and we should never have gone out in it, perhaps if you are thinking of moving to Canada, stand in a commercial freezer for twenty minutes with the fans on, this will give you some idea as to the cold. It certainly was a culture shock for me.
Rgds
Caz

[lisaneil]

hi my husband and i are thinking of moving to canada with have 2 girls 6 and 12 my husband and i are in our 40s he has a trade would the standard of living really be better then in the uk like people say we want to do it for a better future of isnt the grass any greener in canada

Originally Posted by Deeana

Honestly guys, let's get this straight. There is no way Canadian winters can be described as anything other than cold. Harsh even. You may enjoy snow, enjoy winter sports, enjoy freezing standing in a bus queue, but get this. IT IS VERY COLD IN CANADA IN THE WINTER. PERIOD.
Vancouver area is the exception, and the ONLY exception. There, it rains instead.
I am putting this up as a sticky, because nine trillion people have asked the same question. YES IT IS DAMN COLD IN CANADA IN THE WINTER.
If it wasn't there would be more than 30 million people over there. The country would be FULL UP.
It's a great country. Absolutely FULL of nature. Full of great people, great sport, great everything. BUT IT IS VERY COLD IN WINTER.
READ THIS. It is cold enough to freeze your hair solid if you come out of the pool with damp hair. Cold enough to keep a frozen turkey on the deck for weeks before Christmas if it doesn't fit in your freezer. Cold enough to freeze your car radiator as you drive up the highway at 70 mph.
By the way, people who come from Winnipeg call it WINTERPEG because the winters are cold and endless. Children freeze to death if they escape from their houses and wander across to the neighbours in the middle of the day. Within minutes. This is true, not an urban myth.
DON'T LET THIS PUT YOU OFF. But don't go there thinking it will be all sunny, crisp wintery days like we get after a snowfall in England. And don't think it will be like Scotland, or Yorkshire or anywhere in the UK. It won't be. It will often be gray with snow for days and days on end. It can snow continuously for a week or more at a time.
This year Calgarians were complaining on the radio about the bad weather - first time I heard that. The roads weren't being properly cleared. The weather was bad and getting worse, and not lifting like it usually does.
Please don't reply to this mail saying it's not that bad. You can pretend all you like. I happen to believe it is better to realise what you are getting into and deal with it, rather than stick your head in the sand.

[Bob Loblah]

Originally Posted by Deeana

Honestly guys, let's get this straight. There is no way Canadian winters can be described as anything other than cold. Harsh even. You may enjoy snow, enjoy winter sports, enjoy freezing standing in a bus queue, but get this. IT IS VERY COLD IN CANADA IN THE WINTER. PERIOD. Vancouver area is the exception, and the ONLY exception. There, it rains instead.I am putting this up as a sticky, because nine trillion people have asked the same question. YES IT IS DAMN COLD IN CANADA IN THE WINTER. If it wasn't there would be more than 30 million people over there. The country would be FULL UP.It's a great country. Absolutely FULL of nature. Full of great people, great sport, great everything. BUT IT IS VERY COLD IN WINTER.READ THIS. It is cold enough to freeze your hair solid if you come out of the pool with damp hair. Cold enough to keep a frozen turkey on the deck for weeks before Christmas if it doesn't fit in your freezer. Cold enough to freeze your car radiator as you drive up the highway at 70 mph. By the way, people who come from Winnipeg call it WINTERPEG because the winters are cold and endless. Children freeze to death if they escape from their houses and wander across to the neighbours in the middle of the day. Within minutes. This is true, not an urban myth. DON'T LET THIS PUT YOU OFF. But don't go there thinking it will be all sunny, crisp wintery days like we get after a snowfall in England. And don't think it will be like Scotland, or Yorkshire or anywhere in the UK. It won't be. It will often be gray with snow for days and days on end. It can snow continuously for a week or more at a time. This year Calgarians were complaining on the radio about the bad weather - first time I heard that. The roads weren't being properly cleared. The weather was bad and getting worse, and not lifting like it usually does. Please don't reply to this mail saying it's not that bad. You can pretend all you like. I happen to believe it is better to realise what you are getting into and deal with it, rather than stick your head in the sand.

09Mar10While Bob Loblah agrees with 99% of what you have written herein about the Canadian winters.......the Alberta winters last 8 months...and that's a fact....from October until May you can expect snow, snow and more snow.* And another thing,Canada is NOT GREAT IN EVERYTHING.* The winters ( as mentioned ) of course; high taxes; skullduggery in the government; pedophiles out on the streets after very short-term jail sentences; massive government ( public ) debt....in the hundreds of billions meaning ' jusst how can a country with a population of only 33 million pay it off...they can't and it the burden will still be outstanding with the great, great grandchildren of the presentday workers; immigrants taking advantage of the country's welfare system ( after declaring on their original applications that they would NOT ): corrupt policesystems in the larger cities and in some rural regions as well; trua;ncy in schools;passing grades to students who cannot even read or write properly; overfishing; shutdown factories ( autoworkers, technology, timber, minerals,fisheries, general herchandise & hardware........it all comes from China......instead of focusing on keeping the Real Canadian working* too much attention is given to the Almighty dollar no matter what the outcome .. including layed-off workers who can no longer support their families and which fall apart.....only to have additional people; on the welfare lines ); ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD. That's why Bob Loblah chose to live elsewhere and so have countless thousands of Canadians who have seen enough of the Real World to make Real comparisons and to know where they can have a better lifestyle. Thailand is just such a place. Yes, it has some of the things mentioned above...BUT THAILAND MAKES FULL USE OF ITS LAWS TO PUNISH THOSE WHO COMMIT CRIES OF ANY SORT. Canada ( and most of the Western Countries do NOT. )

Ps: It's sure nice NOT to have to scrape that ice and frost of the windshields every morning......let alone dig one's way through 50ft. of snow.

Bob Loblah

[Auld Yin]

Originally Posted by Bob Loblah

09Mar10While Bob Loblah agrees with 99% of what you have written herein about the Canadian winters.......the Alberta winters last 8 months...and that's a fact....from October until May you can expect snow, snow and more snow.* And another thing,Canada is NOT GREAT IN EVERYTHING.* The winters ( as mentioned ) of course; high taxes; skullduggery in the government; pedophiles out on the streets after very short-term jail sentences; massive government ( public ) debt....in the hundreds of billions meaning ' jusst how can a country with a population of only 33 million pay it off...they can't and it the burden will still be outstanding with the great, great grandchildren of the presentday workers; immigrants taking advantage of the country's welfare system ( after declaring on their original applications that they would NOT ): corrupt policesystems in the larger cities and in some rural regions as well; trua;ncy in schools;passing grades to students who cannot even read or write properly; overfishing; shutdown factories ( autoworkers, technology, timber, minerals,fisheries, general herchandise & hardware........it all comes from China......instead of focusing on keeping the Real Canadian working* too much attention is given to the Almighty dollar no matter what the outcome .. including layed-off workers who can no longer support their families and which fall apart.....only to have additional people; on the welfare lines ); ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD. That's why Bob Loblah chose to live elsewhere and so have countless thousands of Canadians who have seen enough of the Real World to make Real comparisons and to know where they can have a better lifestyle. Thailand is just such a place. Yes, it has some of the things mentioned above...BUT THAILAND MAKES FULL USE OF ITS LAWS TO PUNISH THOSE WHO COMMIT CRIES OF ANY SORT. Canada ( and most of the Western Countries do NOT. )

Ps: It's sure nice NOT to have to scrape that ice and frost of the windshields every morning......let alone dig one's way through 50ft. of snow.

Bob Loblah

You should change your name to Bob BlahBlahBlah.

[Bob Loblah]

Originally Posted by Auld Yin

You should change your name to Bob BlahBlahBlah.

09Mar10Sticks and Stones may break Bob Loblah's bones, but names will NEVER hurtBob Loblah.Ps:* Do you think it's well and proper for a ' Moderator ' ( sic ) to be name-calling****** members ?????????* If you do so, then this forum has some very funny****** moderators.If it's allowed, then please let Bob Loblah know and Bob Loblah will assign one to you.* Yes !!!Fob Loblah

[American_Woman]

I just wanted to comment about Vancouver weather. I spent 3 years in Seattle and HATED HATED HATED it. I'm southern so the weather was a real downer for me. I developed seasonal affective disorder, etc. I thought Vancouver would be the exact same but I have come to find out that it is not. I actually ENJOY strolling around the city when it's raining! Having spend most of my life in Texas, I find Vancouver's weather to be PERFECT! I can't speak for any other part of Canada as I have never been anywhere but BC but I already know I'd never live anywhere else.

[frankzen]

Originally Posted by American_Woman

I just wanted to comment about Vancouver weather. I spent 3 years in Seattle and HATED HATED HATED it. I'm southern so the weather was a real downer for me. I developed seasonal affective disorder, etc. I thought Vancouver would be the exact same but I have come to find out that it is not. I actually ENJOY strolling around the city when it's raining! Having spend most of my life in Texas, I find Vancouver's weather to be PERFECT! I can't speak for any other part of Canada as I have never been anywhere but BC but I already know I'd never live anywhere else.

In my experience, the people who can't take Vancouvers weather are those from the east..Quebec/Ontario. I know several people who moved there...only to move back because of the constant rain in the "winter". They are used to minus 20...but constant grey skies and rain drives them absolutely nuts!

Originally Posted by American_Woman

I just wanted to comment about Vancouver weather. I spent 3 years in Seattle and HATED HATED HATED it. I'm southern so the weather was a real downer for me. I developed seasonal affective disorder, etc. I thought Vancouver would be the exact same but I have come to find out that it is not. I actually ENJOY strolling around the city when it's raining! Having spend most of my life in Texas, I find Vancouver's weather to be PERFECT! I can't speak for any other part of Canada as I have never been anywhere but BC but I already know I'd never live anywhere else.

Sshh! We're trying to keep Vancouver a secret... BC's annual net in-migration exceeds 40,000 people each year and most of this is coming to Metro Vancouver area. That creates an ongoing demand for housing and why prices continue to climb. Regardless of weather, a better quality of life generally comes with a higher cost of living...