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I was never very good at math, which is probably why I became a writer. The only numbers I could ever seem get my head around were on the back of hockey cards. But the tourism industry loves numbers. In Canada, they bombard you with them. Recently, as I was trying to make sense of the latest barrage of statistics about tourism, I noticed something. Rather, I noted the absence of a word – “winter.” Oh, the months are named in columns called “November to January", “February to April,” – but never the word “winter,” which is exactly what those months are in Canada. It’s as if winter were a dirty word.

Canada shouldn’t apologize for being a winter country. We should celebrate it. While it may go on a tad long in some parts of the country, winter in Canada is for the most part a beautiful thing, a total treat for body and soul. Winter scenery can be spellbinding and serene, while the many outdoor activities we can engage in here are just plain good for you. You want fresh air? In Canada, you can gulp it down for free while doing everything from skiing and skating to dogsledding or even on a simple walk in the snowy woods. It’s not bad from an outdoor hot tub either.

Everybody has a winter season, even that world bobsledding power Jamaica. But for people who live in non-snowy winter countries, Canadian Winter offers a pretty unique experience. The climate, geography and opportunities for outdoor adventure of the winter kind just can’t be had in 90 per cent of the rest of the world. Yes, a beach in Cancun in January can be a good thing too. But you haven’t lived until you’ve made a snow angel in Canadian powder either. It’s an experience you’ll never forget.

Whether you are a snow veteran or a first-timer, make your next winter vacation a Canadian one. Nobody does winter better than Canada.

Jim Hynes
Editor
Canadian Winter