A couple of years ago I was able to fulfill a fantasy when I spent a week in Banff during the winter.  I’m not a skier, or in any way athletic, but I love the mountains.  I especially savour the mountain air in winter and spring. Scented by the earth, and pines and the breezes brushing over snow it seems to awaken my mind and body with its freshness.

My stay in Banff, highlighted by a passing winter storm that I watched come, arrive, and go, from the mountain top accessibly by cable car, was a wonderful vacation.  Of course staying at the Banff Springs Hotel was part of the magic. 

Last year we visited Jasper in February, enroute to Edmonton for a family visit.  Again the magic of winter enthralled us.  Wildlife- elk, big horn sheep, mountain goats, caribou and even a wolf on the prowl - made this visit a never to be forgotten experience.

The two events triggered a desire to enjoy more of Canada in the winter.  For many of us the best way to do that is to take in a winter festival.  We have a number of terrific events to choose from.  In February Ottawa’s Winterlude and Quebec City’s Winter Carnival are well established and easily accessible.

If you love skating then what they claim is the world’s longest manmade skating rink is a must. The Rideau Canal offers 7.8 km or 4.8 mi of ice.  Its almost as much fun to watch as to glide along or shoot a puck. Those who are less athletic will love the Rogers Crystal Garden’s ice sculptures and the Sun Life Snowflake Kingdom snow sculptures. It’s a three week affair, so check out the schedule for special events and make sure you sample a warm, fresh “BeaverTails” (relax—they’re pastry!)

The Québec Winter Carnival claims to be the world’s biggest winter carnival drawing almost a million people to the historic old city to see snow and ice sculptures, mascot Carnaval Bonhomme’s Ice Castle, a night parade (so good it’s always done twice) and games at the Plains of Abraham, where everything from snow tubing to a winter zipline’s happening. Cold? Warm up with “caribou”—hot, red wine or port mixed with maple syrup or white-lightning booze...whatever suits you.

Now is one is event more adventurous and wants to experience a true northern winter, then Yellowknife’s Caribou Carnival in March can be linked to Iqaluit’s Toonic Tyme.  The Caribou Carnival on a frozen lake in the North West Territories has been happening for more than 50 years.  No same old, same old here though.  They add a wrinkle or two every so often – like kit skiing and boarding or snow volleyball.  Add in a maple sugar shake, traditional Dene hand games, snow sculptures, sledding and music and you have a great time.  

Toonik Tyme, is filled with genuine local cultural tradition. This spring festival in Nunavut’s capital honours the annual return of the sun to Canada’s Far North, with igloo building, snowmobile and dogsled races, a community feast and traditional Inuit games. But the golf tournament on sea ice draws a big audience, too.

If heading to the true north appeals then do check out other tourism opportunities to fill the time between the two events.  An image of tents glowing from the lights within, surrounded by people bundled up to keep warm as they lay outside to watch the Northern Lights has me hankering for this to happen in my life.

There are winter carnivals happening across Canada, so check out your local neighbourhood.  We can’t all hit Vancouver for the Olympics - where the biggest winter event of the year is happening in 2010, but we can enjoy things like watching the New Year swimmers in Atlantic Canada, or maybe heading for Winterfest in Calgary.  It was the ‘88 Olympics that sparked an annual February celebration which allows us ordinary folks to take in special events at Olympic Plaza and Heritage Park. Canada Olympic Park lets everyone who dares try the luge or bobsleigh. More sensible folk watch real pros strut their stuff freestyle skiing and trampoline snowboarding (not yet, and maybe never, an official Winter Olympic sport).

Whatever strikes your fancy, remember winter should be a season to be enjoyed.  Nor just endured.  

Till next time

Julie