Manitoba
Home to Canada’s clearest skies year-round, the province of Manitoba has earned a reputation for bitterly cold, harsh winters (although statistics show that it has only the fourth coldest winter among Canadian provinces). The easternmost of the prairie provinces is chiefly covered by the Canadian Shield in its northern half, although large areas have been cleared for agriculture, while large parts of southern Manitoba, where the majority of Manitobans reside, is covered by huge lakes. The province lies in the path of the Arctic Trough, which funnels cold arctic air south over the open prairie during the winter months. The intersection of Portage and Main streets in its capital and largest city, Winnipeg, has been called the windiest place in Canada, and is particularly brutal in winter, earning the city the nickname “Winterpeg.” A large part of northeast Manitoba lies on the sub-arctic shores of Hudson’s Bay. The site of one of the world’s largest annual polar bear migrations, the city of Churchill has become an important wilderness and outdoor adventure centre. Manitoba does have a few small ski centres, while many other outdoor winter activities can be enjoyed across the province.