Lifestyle and Leisure
Things to do in the Canadian winter
Matt French finds out what a country - known for its cold winters and heavy snowfalls - has to offer people in conditions that other countries would struggle to operate public transport in.
With winters of extreme cold and snow – such as those experienced in Canada – you would be forgiven for expecting the nation to shut down and the population to go into hibernation. However, the reality is very different, with a vast array of wintertime activities to enjoy and watch, in fact, you will find Canadians in a celebratory mood during their signature season. Here we outline some of the events, other than skiing, to enjoy on a visit to the Maple Leaf country come winter.
Winter wine festivals
Canada may not be particularly well known for its output of wines, but lovers of the grape will know that the vineyards of Ontario's Niagara Peninsula and British Columbia's Okanagan Valley produce some very fine specialist wines. The varieties these areas are famous for are icewines. The grapes for these tipples must be picked at between -8 and -13°C, and the first harvest is in December. Some vineyards even invite members of the public to take part in the picking, almost always at night.
However, if sampling the final product is more appealing than plucking grapes on a freezing cold night, then head for the Okanagan Icewine Festival, 14th to 19th January, or the Niagara Icewine Festival, from 18th to 27th January.
The wine itself is intensely sweet and, be warned, it does not come cheap. This is because the yield from the harvest can be as little as a tenth of that of a regular white wine grape variety. The Niagara Icewine festival includes gala evenings and ornate ice bars as well as roast chestnuts and tours along Niagara's famed wine route. Over 30 of Ontario's wineries will present over 100 award-winning icewines, and a dozen food stations will offer the finest in Canadian cuisine. The festival also benefits from views of the partially frozen Niagara Falls. The Annual Okanagan Icewine Festival is held at the Sun Peaks Resort, 370 kilometres north of Vancouver. Icewines can be enjoyed in this alpine resort with events ranging from wine masters' dinners to educational seminars and tastings.
Anyone for pond hockey?
The annual Canadian National Pond Hockey Championships will be held on 25th to 27th January next year at the Deerhurst Resort, Muskoka, Ontario, and will give spectators an insight into Canadian culture.
Ice hockey has an important place in Canadian life as a pastime and source of national pride. The game is said to have developed from humble beginnings on frozen Canadian ponds over a century ago and the national team has enjoyed various successes over the years. The game returns to its roots in the last weekend of January with 112 teams in the men's (25 and over) category and 32 teams in the women's (19 and over) competition vying for glory. Then from 1st to 3rd February the 'masters' (men aged 35 and over and women aged 25 and over) will put their skates on to battle it out to win the honour of lifting their own version of the competition's Maple Cup.
Winter extravaganza!
The Canadian Capital region plays host to the country's biggest winter celebration, Winterlude, which runs from 1st to the 17th February 2008.
This festival spans both sides of the river that divides Ottawa, Ontario, from Gatineau, Quebec, and includes a variety of activities for people of all ages, interests and activity levels in the first three weekends of February. Highlights of the event schedule include ice carvings and a playground made of snow. However, at the heart of Winterlude is the world's longest skating rink — so long that ice-skating actually qualifies as a mode of transportation in Ottawa, with many people skating to and from work and school. The Rideau Canal is groomed for 7.8 kilometres of its length, from downtown behind the National Arts Centre and mere steps from Parliament Hill, up to and including Dow's Lake. Skates can be rented from various points along the canal.
Other events to watch out for are the Winterlude Triathlon, the Canadian Tire Jumpstart Activity Centre, a bed race, skating demonstrations, curling workshops and skating lessons. The American Express Snowbowl offers dance and musical performances, while Canada's Aboriginal traditions can be experienced at Pig Island through cultural displays, songs, food, drumming and snowshoe-making workshops. Popular with children of all ages is Jacques Cartier Park in Gatineau, home of the Snowflake Kingdom and the Winterlude domain of the Ice Hog family, the festival's furry mascots. This is the biggest snow playground in North America and has more than 30 giant snow slides, a snow maze and a unique Northern Palace, complemented by a variety of shows, games and performances.
Curling crazy!
Also embodying Canada's love for all sports played on frozen water is the pastime of curling. This winter sport is in the British consciousness after the heroics of the British women's curling team at the 2002 Olympics. However, the Canadian teams have a history of success in this Olympic event and also in world championships. Testament to the country's love affair with curling is the fact the oldest athletic club of any kind in North America is a Canadian curling club – The Royal Montreal Curling Club – which is celebrating its bicentennial this year.
After the World Championships (which Canada has won 29 times), the most widely followed annual event is the men's Canadian national championship, known as the Brier. The Brier will be held from 8th to 16th March next year at the new MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Anyone interested in sampling this national addiction should book early as it is usually well supported.
And something for inside
Not all of winter's diversions are enjoyed on the slopes, trails and rinks in Canada. Many alternative options can be found indoors and include theatre, dining and shopping. There's one location that offers all this all under one giant roof. West Edmonton Mall, or WEM for short, is the largest shopping centre on the planet at 493,000 square metres. WEM has more than 800 stores and 100 restaurants, holds records for its indoor amusement park (with 25 rides including a kilometre-long roller coaster), a lake, wave pool and permanent bungee tower. WEM is the most visited attraction in Alberta.
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