It’s freezing cold outside. Every time you open the door, a draft of nose-hair-freezing air reminds you of the salt you forgot to put on the steps and the ice you have to scrape off the windshield before you can hop in the car – in the dark – and get to work. But this is Canada, eh? Vancouver is home to the 2010 Winter Olympics; Canadians know how to make the most of winter. If you want to make the best of it, check out our guide to the top five neighbourhoods in Canada where you can not only endure winter, but enjoy it.
NORTH VANCOUVER – Maplewood
What to do: skiing, sleigh rides, and ice skating
We all know the B.C. boast – that the province has every conceivable climactic zone all in one pretty package. But mountains reign supreme in British Columbia. In the winter, you can bet they have plenty of snow – think ‘top-rated resort Whistler’ and ‘host of 2010 Winter Olympics’. There are terrific skiing and snowboarding mountains throughout the province as well as myriad backcountry skiing opportunities in national and provincial parks. The province has more than 50 designated ski areas with incredible cross-country terrain. You can also do dogsledding and snowshoeing. With so many options, where’s the best neighbourhood? We think it’s Maplewood, a community once known for light industry but now changing to urban residential – which means great deals on condos and townhomes (by BC standards).
North Vancouver, known by the locals as the “North Shore,” is home to about 180,000 citizens and is divided into many other major residential and commercial neighbourhoods, including Capilano where the College is, and Maplewood, our feature neighbourhood. Maplewood is a quiet residential neighbourhood on the east side of the Lynn Creek, straddling the mouth of the Seymour River. It’s not only the home of Maplewood Farms, a popular children’s attraction, but great recreation for the grown ups too: the North Shore Winter Club, the North Shore Equestrian Club, recreational pathways along the Lynn River in the Lynn Canyon Park, the Canlan Ice Sports North Shore facility, Seymour Youth Centre, and the Ron Andrews RecCentre. And yes, excellent downhill skiing on Mount Seymour, whose 20 runs average the most snowfall (about 394 inches per year). Here’s where you get those breathtaking pictures of towering mountains, covered in gullies, ravines, waterfalls, creeks, and spruce, fir, and cedar forests.
Where to go:
Capilano Suspension Bridge is Vancouver’s oldest tourist attraction, but The Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge free to visit, tucked away amid firs and cedars in a hikers’ paradise right near Maplewood.
Enjoy the varied activities at Grouse Mountain, including skiing, sleigh rides, and ice skating; or do The Grouse Grind, Vancouver’s best-known and most challenging mountainside hike.
The North Shore’s other great skiing mountains include Cypress Mountain, the huge official West Vancouver venue for 2010 Olympic freestyle skiing and snowboarding. Epic snowfalls, huge verticals, expansive backcountry, diverse terrain, spectacular scenery and a mild winter climate make this a great place for the family.
If you get tired of all the outdoor play, relax with shopping, culture, and dining at Lonsdale Quay, the waterfront heartbeat of North Vancouver, check out the bastion Park Royal Shopping Centre, or boutique shopping abounds in neighbourhood centres like Lynn Valley.
SASKATCHEWAN – PRINCE ALBERT (West Hill)
What do do: hiking, curling up by a fire, snow mobiling
Go West, young people, if you want to really experience a Canadian winter! The Prairies know how to do winter right, probably because of the vast open spaces and winters that aren’t for the faint of heart. If you’re going to live in the Prairies, there’s a neighbourhood in Saskatchewan’s most northerly city that offers easy access to one of Canada’s most spectacular national assets you never hear of: Prince Albert National Park, whose motto is “The sense of horizons unexplored. Where wolves roam lakes that heave and groan. The mystery of distant hills where weighted boughs greet frosted dawn.” Does that sound wintry or what?
A bit about Prince Albert (since you may never have heard of it): If you appreciate ‘small town’ life, you might love Prince Albert. Known as the ‘gateway to the north’ it has a population of 4014, numerous sites of historical interest, and elaborate historic homes found in the affluent areas of East Hill and West Hill, our feature neighbourhood. There are tons of places to stay and as Christmas approaches, the locals put on a whole lot of music festivals, dances, dinners, choirs, craft shows, teas, free movie screenings, provincial curling championships and concerts. If bucolic family life isn’t enough of a pull, did we mention that real estate is real cheap – it’s possible to find a single family home in the $100s.
Where to go: The boreal forest at Prince Albert National Park on Waskesiu Lake is very much shaped by the season of snow and cold. That means superb cross country skiing, snowshoeing, camping, lake skating and wildlife watching. Hotel, log cabin, chalet, bed-and-breakfast and other rental accommodations, restaurants and a few other services are open in and near the beautiful, tranquil park year round.
What to do there: The park offers a range of cross-country ski trails for all skill levels. There are groomed trails, or the adventurous can choose their own route and venture off the beaten path. Blaze your own snowshoe trail through the forest or use a designated route. Camp overnight and enjoy the northern sky and solitude, plus you can stake out the wildlife: Elk, white tailed deer, moose, red fox, plains bison, wolf and lynx are some of the larger mammals you may see. Also watch for otter, fisher, marten, snowshoe hare or weasel. Bird watchers will enjoy the approximately 30 species of birds that make Prince Albert National Park their winter home.
Snowmachines are not permitted in Prince Albert National Park but there are hundreds of miles of excellent, groomed trails just outside the park. If it’s too cold to play outside, take advantage of Waskesiu’s indoor skating rink!
When to go: The Visitors’ Centre, an indispensable resource, is open Mid October to Mid May. Ice fishing season on Waskesiu Lake is open until March 31.
Living in West Hill, you might get involved with the Prince Albert Winter Festival Society which puts on an annual festival (the largest in Western Canada) to celebrate all things winter – from local musical and artistic performances to snow sculpture demonstrations to the ever-popular children’s carnival. Enjoy fireworks, a bonfire, and some uniquely north-western activities like the mutt pull and sled dog races (they’re big on sled dog races in Prince Albert – it’s the site of qualifying races for more prestigious competitions). Brrr.
When to go: The last two weeks in February
TORONTO – Riverdale (Downtown)
What do do: tobogganing & outdoor hockey,
Who says a big city can’t host an excellent winter neighbourhood? True, Torontonians are apt to stay indoors once the deep freeze settles in – with the subways and the PATH, you can get practically anywhere without having to emerge outdoors, and the plethora of fine dining, shopping and entertainment options means there’s always plenty to do when the mercury falls. But for hardy souls, Toronto’s east end offers plenty of the winter activities that burn kids’ energy and make adults reach for the nog.
Riverdale is our feature winter neighbourhood because let’s face it, everyone wants to live in Riverdale; the schools, the shopping, the greenspace, the laid-back yuppie/Greektown vibe, the proximity to downtown. Housing prices start at half a million and go up from there – but oddly enough, there are great bargains to be had on rentals. If you’re lucky enough to already live in Riverdale, you know it boasts five parks, all with outdoor ice rinks.
Where to go: Withrow Park, Riverdale Park East, Greenwood Park, Jimmie Simpson Park, and Monarch Park
When to go: Outdoor rinks are open from approximately early December to the end of February, with a holiday break.
If you love tobogganing but just refuse to cross the bridge to Christie Pits, Withrow Park has a hill from the soccer field down to beside the baseball diamond that will thrill smaller children and their families. If you’re looking for something more challenging, Riverdale Park East on Broadview Avenue has a much more serious tobogganing hill. It’s also home to Riverdale Farm, which hosts such winter events as an annual Children’s Christmas Shopping Party with Refreshments, gifts under $15.00 and cookie making. The working farm lets you interact with farmers as they feed animals, collect eggs, groom horses and milk cows or goats.
Of course, if you’re willing to venture outside Riverdale a bit into the greater Toronto landscape, you’re well situated to enjoy wintry activities like skating under the lights in the shadow of the big tree at Nathan Philips Square, free all-ages, Skate Culture events at the Harbourfront Centre’s Natrel Rink, and a winter visit to the Toronto Zoo, where you can warm up with a hot cocoa as you gaze at at snow leopards, Arctic wolves, elephants and more. Most of the animals are still visible throughout the winter and are said to be more active in cooler climates. Skiing and snowboarding is available at two west-end locales: Earl Bales and Centennial Park Ski & Snowboard Centres.
Something many residents don’t know about Riverdale is that it’s home to a Discovery Walk – where you can explore the scenic hills and dales of the Don River Valley, discover panoramic views and the splendid park-like atmosphere of Toronto’s oldest cemetery. A good starting point for the Walk is the Broadview Subway Station. From here the tour guides you through the Lower Don Valley. Along the way you can visit Riverdale Farm, Prince Edward (Bloor Street) Viaduct, Chester Springs Marsh and beautiful Todmorden Mills.
If all that traipsing through hill and dale has got you tired, warm up with spicy live theatre at the Music Hall or the Bad Dog; check out a local festival like the Riverdale Share Concert; or drink some ouzo at one of the many authentic Greek restaurants in the hood. A special shout out to nearby Leslieville and the Beach for incredible holiday boutique shopping!
OTTAWA – South End
What to do: skiing, hiking, skating
Those who have visited our nation’s capital can already tell you about all the wonderful landmarks and sights, like the Parliament Buildings and museums. But if you want to make sleepy-classy Ottawa your home, and really enjoy what the city has to offer, there are few places that offer a better tribute to winter than Ottawa’s South End. Rental homes are in the $1400-$2000/month range and you can buy a custom home starting at $650,000.
Where to go: The ski centre at Mooney’s Bay has five kilometres of groomed trails for both classic and skate (freestyle) skiing techniques. If skiing after dark fits your schedule best, you will love the dedicated trail lighting that illuminates the path until late in the evening! The centre includes a ski school that caters to all ages and abilities. In addition, there is a large sledding hill right next to the centre. Mooney’s Bay Bistro at 731 Ridgewood Avenue is a neighbourhood fave!
Snow sliding and tobogganing is a great fun activity for the whole family in the region and there are plenty of hills around town to go sliding on, so grab your toboggan, snow sled or tube and head to the local hills for some great excitement.
When to go: Ski facilities normally operate from mid-December to early March.
Skating is incredibly popular in Ottawa – how could it not be, with the 125-mile Rideau Canal turning into the world’s largest skating rink every winter? Locals actually ice skate the 5-mile route to work. An absolute must is a stop at one of the on-ice kiosks for hot chocolate and Beaver Tails. Don’t be afraid to just hop on a snowmobile and plow through the frozen lakes connected to the Canal. If the Rideau is too intimidating, The Bayview School at 3071 Riverside in Ottawa’s South End has a double surface rink you’ll enjoy.
When to go: Rideau Canal Skateway generally opens in January/Feburary when the canal is sufficiently frozen and safe for skaters.
If a festival is more your thing, join the thousands of Canadians celebrating the sub-zero temperatures and waist-high snowdrifts at Winterlude. For the first three weekend’s every February, downtown Ottawa puts on a world-class winter festival that features ice sculptures, a snow playground and maze, live concerts, horse-drawn sleigh rides, an igloo building workshop and more. The venues are scattered throughout the downtown and easily accessed from the South End.
When to go: Weekends, February 5 to 21, 2010. The many Winterlude activity venues are accessible every day, with special activities taking place over all three Winterlude weekends.
And of course…there is always Parliament Hill with their lights.
NOVA SCOTIA – CAPE BRETON – Baddeck
What to do: hiking, snowmobiling, ice fishing
When you think of ‘down east’ you probably think of Halifax, the port city capital of Nova Scotia and the largest city in Atlantic Canada. In the summer, waterfront Halifax is world-renowned for its beauty and character. But did you know that thanks to the moderating effects of the sea, winters in the region are among the mildest in Canada? Take that, Ontarians. And while snowfalls can be heavy, the changeable weather means that the snow doesn’t always stick around for very long. So forget Halifax. To take part in most winter activities, you’ll have to leave the city and journey to Cape Breton – which, thanks to its plentiful snow, offers excellent opportunities for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, dog sledding, ice fishing, ice climbing and snowmobiling. It’s only an hour and a half east of Halifax Airport. You can do it.
Baddeck, Nova Scotia is known for being the birthplace of Canadian flight, when in 1909 the Silver Dart took to the air above Bras D’Or Lakes. With only 873 residents, Baddeck was the summer home of inventor Alexander Graham Bell, too. Stretching along the shores of the beautiful Bras d’Or Lakes, it is a village considered to be the beginning and end of the world famous Cabot Trail. The bustling resort community quiets down in winter, but there’s still an assortment of accommodations to suit any taste and budget ranging from 5 star suites to campgrounds. Exquisite food can be found in any one of the many restaurants offering everything from world famous lobster to a steaming cup of seafood chowder or sandwich. Must visit: the Water’s Edge Café and Gallery. There’s even elite shopping in boutiques, outdoor and sporting shops.
Where to go: Baddeck Area Cross Country Ski Club has 5 km of groomed trails for cross-country skiing.
There are 3 ski clubs: the Cabot Snowmobile Club, McKinnon’s Harbour, and Ski Ben Eoin for downhill, featuring the Maritimes’ only serviced Telemark hill. Snowmobile enthusiasts may enjoy miles of trails all over the highlands with barbeque pits scattered around for your convenience. Cape Breton Highlands National Park has seven groomed trails in three different areas: Black Brook, which connects to the Mary Ann Falls trail that climbs to 500 feet above sea level and has scenic views and wildlife watching (moose, deer, otter); Broad Cove; and Clyburn Valley, which follows the Clyburn River through a hardwood valley of beech, maple, white spruce and birch, with scenic views of Franey Mountain and the river valley.
When to go: Anytime in January or February
Long before there were airplanes and snowmobiles, dog sled was once one of the main methods of transportation in the region. You can take guided expeditions (starting at $150 per person) from a ranch near Baddeck along the pristine winter wonderland of the Cape Breton Highlands Plateau or the Baddeck River Valley where you’re in the drivers’ seat, practicing your basic sled dog commands on the rare Canadian Eskimo Dogs:
“Mush!” — Let’s Go
“Gee!” — Turn Right
“Haw!” — Turn Left
“Whao!” — Slow or Stop
“On by!” — Straight Ahead.
Don’t forget, winter temperatures will average from 0 to -20 degrees Celsius.
If dogs aren’t your thing, try carriage rides and trail rides with Norwegian Fjord horses; eco-expeditions; fishing…in Baddeck, the list goes on.
Check out Usige Ban Falls, a Provincial Park along Baddeck River, for a scenic waterfall, signs of moose, bald eagles and yes, partridge (not in pear trees!)
That is our Top Five Best Winter Neighbourhoods in Canada, I am sure we missed some good ones…let us know what they are…
