Montrealers Winter Passions & Activities - Montreal, Canada
Montreal, Canada
Montrealers are happy, lucky people no matter the season. One place on the island the really reflects our four seasons is Mont Royal Park. Our largest park. The land scape architect, Fredrick Law Olmstead is most famous for Central Park in New York, Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Prospect park.. too name a few..
Montreal is one of the rare places that has four perfect seasons. Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.Its also one of the sunniest place in Canada.. year round!
Each season has its activities, its clothes, its food, its way of life and we Montrealers can adapt to each one of them in a heart beat! Also we look forward to each season. In Winter ladies get to show off their great winter coats of every style, the new hats and scarves, gloves and the variety of boots for all occasions in winter.
Winter activities on our island city includes absolutely anything and everything under the sun both indoors and out for the entire season. The best part, there is nothing for which you require to take a car. You can do all of the activities with public transportation.
For the past 20 years I have been traveling for work, research, study in the winters. Usually leaving in November and returning in April. So far every country in the Northern Hemisphere that I have worked lived or traveled to during this period I found the weather difficult at times. In places were you expect warmth its cold. The houses, apartments are not built for cold weather. Very often it is warmer outside then it is inside
In Northern Europe it stays dark for long hours, the Netherlands, The UK.. and other parts its grey, if it snows its slushy and damn, wet and lucky if you see the sun. In the countries around the Mediterranean its often rainy in winter. I remember Beirut and the sea swells. I spent years in Cairo in the winter from December to February it can rain sometimes and people act as if the world comes to an end. Worst is being cold inside my apartment. I couldn't bare the cold. December 2011 in Delhi it was 2 C.. ah... I was in Kolkata and I was actually cold indoors.
I was fed up of feeling cold while I was indoors in all of these countries. Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Southern France,Lebanon, UAE, India just to name a few. What I found unbearable in the Netherlands, Germany, Russia, Finland, Northern France the United Kingdom to name just a few was the lack of sun. Days and days without the sun.... How can a human being live with out sun.
My family, colleagues and friends around the Mediterranean ( without experiencing it) think that it is so cold in Canada that everyone wears all their clothes and freeze. Well now I know where they get that idea from...... It bloody freezing in winter in their countries, indoors!!!!!!!
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Also, we Canadians without meaning to describe the extremes of temperature in winter and that scares people from wanting to come and experience winter in a place that knows what to do with it. When really those extreme days are so few and rare but they are more fun to talk about . After all hockey and the weather are our favourite topics of conversation.
I had to travel the whole world in winter to realise and remember that my child hood was spent with great winter days outside and hot chocolate waiting for us inside. Travelling away from home in winter also made me appreciate what we have in Montreal. Simple things like as much hot water as you need for a shower. In India Australia, Cairo, the Sinai, the UK etc etc.l in winter you are lucky to have 5 mins of hot water for a shower. I also came out of my shower feeling colder then before....
In Montreal, I can take an nice long hot bath, a nice hot shower and the water is soft. I can leave the shower with a robe only and ot feeze indoors
This year I decided to stay home in my beautiful island city of Montreal, where I have grown up all of my life and spend November, December, January and part of February here before I left for my travels.
The child in me came out the moment the snow touched the ground.
December 2012
Snow ball Fights and Snow man building:
The snow was perfect for making snow men and snow balls. When we were in primary school and early high school. We used to make a fort made of snow and make hundreds of snow balls, to have snow ball fights. However, our most favourite activity was throwing snow balls at the city buses passing by. Then running away so that we would not get caught.
I enjoyed a snow ball fight with some teenagers and I won. I enjoyed a snow ball fight with a small child who was 6 years old and I let him win. Then all of us threw snow balls at the city buses and enjoyed ourselves.
Street Hockey
My brothers and I used to play street hockey with the neighbours all the time in summer and winter. My friends who lived in the stair cased houses near by had long alley ways. We would play hockey in the alley ways and break quite a few windows.
Skating:
I love ice skating with a mad passion. I grabbed my skates and one afternoon spent nearly 4 hours skating. Thinking I had been skating for only 45 mins. I did not feel the cold at all. Just loved spinning, skating outside.Every neighbourhood park has one or two outdoor skating rinks.
One day I went to the Old Port to skate at the Bonsecour Basin, as the sun set the historical buildings in Old Montreal were lit up and then above as we skated we had fireworks.
After my day of skating I met some friends for some Dark Hot Chocolate, then tapas and a great bottle of red wine in a local neighbourhood pub.
Cross Country Skiing
My favourite park to cross country ski is de Maisonneuve Park, near the Montreal Botanical Gardens and the Olympic Stadium. As a teenager and pre universities I would spend hours and hours every weekend cross country skiing in this park. It has hills, flat areas, little forests.
Once I was done, I crossed the street and went for a long swim at the Olympic Pool and then the sauna..... heaven!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 24 2012
Perfect Winter Day for long walk anywhere on the Island:
Was one Magical and beautiful day.
We had snow fall, a few days back but the sun was shining so bright. The snow was light and powdery. The weather was a perfect -8 C. I walked from my house to the Jean Talon Market. Did some shopping. The market spelled like Pine Trees, the bread smelled good. There was hot chocolate everywhere and it just smelled so good.. I drove some of my family members to the airport and on the way back took the Lake Shore on lake St Louis. Snow with a bit of frozen ice, people cross country skiing , walking their dogs. It could not have been more beautiful. Later in the afternoon I picked up my friend arriving from the airport and we took the same Lake shore road at sunset. It was colder as the sunset but the light in the sky on the lake can only be experienced here.
We got home and enjoyed a toasty warm house, good wine and dinner I cooked.
December 25th 2012
Another Perfect Day for Winter Walks
A spectacular day. It was so sunny, so bright and with the white snow even blinding, so we all had to wear sun glasses.
The temperature had dropped to -12 C with the wind shield around -19 C by evening.
With warm boots, socks, mitts, hat, long johns. We took a walk through Mont Royal Cemetery, then walked up to the look out on Montreal.
The park was packed with people. Montrealers were all bundled up and out for a walk on this stunning clear, sunny day on one of our most favourite parks. Mont Royal.
From the look out, the colder the day the better the view as the sky was pristine and blue with not a cloud in the sky.
From there we walked past the Smith House, where cross country skiers where getting off for some exploration of the snow. A little higher up the snow shoers were out in full force as well.
Definition of Snow shoes for those who have no idea what I am talking a bout
(Imagine attaching a tennis racket on each foot and walking in think white flour or baby powder)
Since flour and powder are so fine, without the tennis rackets you would sink into it
Tobogganing, Inner Tubing, Sliding on Magic Carpet down the hills:
When we got to the top of the hill above Beaver Lake. Kids were inner tubing, or sliding on their magic carpets.
( For those who don't know what a Magic Carpet is. Remember the story of the Arabian Nights, where the genie flies on a prayer sized rug? Well imagine it made of plastic, so that when you are in the snow or sand you slide much faster!)
When the got to the bottom of the hill. The walked straight back up for another go!!
The view of St Joseph Oratory against the sun with the skaters in the back ground gave a peaceful feeling to the whole scene
Next to Beaver lake ( which is under renovations) the skaters were out.
If you want to know how creative Montrealer are.... Those orange cones used for construction, where used on the ice for adults and children learning to skate. They held on to them as they got their balance. If they fell, there was no problem they would crash into the orange cones and not get hurt!! Now that is the never ending creativity of we Montrealers!!
In Montreal when you are born....we first learn to love ice hockey and our teams the Montreal Canadiens. Then we dream of skating like our favourite hockey player and we learn how to skate before the age of 5 years old.
From Beaver lake.... there are sleigh rides though the park!!
Jingle Bells Jingle Bells......
Dashing through the snow in a one horse open sleigh
Those Christmas songs we sing... well in Montreal they are reality not just songs.
December 27 2012
Shovel ling Snow:
We had a huge snow storm. I was so excited!!!! Again the child in me came out!!! I couldn't wait to shovel and then throw myself into the snow pile to see how I would get out
There was blowing snow, nearly 55 to 60 cm of snow fell during the day.
At 07h30 I started shovel ling the steps to my house, then the passage to the walk way to my house. I shovel led the driver way.
When I was a child and in high school I remember loving to shovel the snow and most of all take the snow off of cars
I loved it so much that not realising it, I spent four hours clearing the snow from our home. I was enjoying myself too much.
My brother was away on holiday and kept his car at my father's house, in the TEMPO.
TEMPO( Tarp to cover things)
For those who don't know what a TEMPO is ( actually a tarp but the first company to start them was Tempo so we just all it that)
These are custom made plastic tents which are made to the size of your drive way and found only in the Province of Québec and mainly in Montreal. When your drive way it covered, you can bring your car into the covered tent. The salty, dirty snow and ice melt off the car, once it is cleared and cleaned then you can bring your car into the garage of your home. You don't want to bring the car into the garage with the salt as it will eat away at your home. Some people simply leave their cars there for the winter. Having this TEMP on your driver way means you don't have to shovel your driveway. However you must shake off the snow from the roof, to ensure that their is not so much weight on the TEMPO.
In the evening my friend from the Netherlands who did not want to come out, I guess fearing the cold or snow. Came out to help shovel. She was surprised that it was not cold, that in fact she was very hot from the exercise. She said clearing the snow is therapeutic.
Though the snow continued to fall, I continued to go out and clear the snow, so that the snow would not be too heavy the following day.
The snow removal trucks where clearing the streets and side walks, however since it was the holiday season, many were on holiday themselves. Which meant what should have taken about 3-5 days to clear, took much longer.
Different Kinds of Snow:
For those who don't live in our climate.. I will break a misconception
Fluffy Snow
When it snows:
The weather is very mild, usually -1 to -5 C
Its usually cloudy of course because the clouds above are dropping the snow
The snow is powdery like baby powder, fluffy and light
Sticky snow sometimes Surgery Snow
Day after a snow storm:
The weather is usually a bit colder usually -2 to -10 C
Very sunny and bright
The snowy is usually a little heavier, a little more like sugar that sticks together.
The sound it makes when you walk on it is crunchy
Squeaky Snow
Very often the temperature will drop a little more usually -10 C to -15 C
Very sunny and bright
The snow is usually much heavier and icy. When you walk on packed snow it feels like ice and when you walk on it, it makes a squeaking sound.
Slushy Snow
0 C to -3
It gets milder, the winds drop and the snow becomes soft again until the next snow storm.
This snow is wet, heavy, sticky, slushy on the street and is great for snow balls and snow man building
Diamond Snow
This snow is the most beautiful. Its very light, fluffy and especially in the night with the street light or the moon.. looks like shimmering diamonds. Gorgeous!!
Stinging Snow
This snow is when we have blowing snow that whips around everywhere and stings your face. Doesn't hurt but it gets into everything.
Snow removal:
We have a multimillion dollar a year snow removal budget. As a child and even to this day, too me there is nothing more excited that watching snow removal trucks collect the snow and remove it from the streets and side walks. A true art form in Montreal.
As the snow falls, trucks( lorries) with huge blades in the front push the snow towards the side walks. Little trucks on the side walk push the snow towards the street. This is done continuously. It can take three to five days to remove the snow, depending on how heavy the snow fall. First the highways, bus stops, bridges, tunnels, then main streets especially downtown, then important streets, then residential areas, followed by bike paths ( yes there are people who cycle in winter!!
The side walks are sanded or graveled to ensure its safe to walk. Never put salt on cement it will eat away at it. The streets are salted or gravel led so cars can drive.
We do this over and over again.
When the snow is collected we have trucks with tea spots and blades that chop up the snow and the snow blower ( tea spot) blows it into lorries that fill up, then the next one come by and fills up. The Snow is dumped into old quarries.
Airport
Snow removal is an art at the airport as well. Very often delayed flights are because of other cities who can not handle the snow. Rarely are the delays due to not being able to keep up with the snow removal.
In 1993 just before St Patrick Days. All flight destined for the Eastern Sea board of North America landed at both our airports Mirabel and then Dorval ( now Pierre E Trudeau)
Other cities including Toronto could not handle the snow storm. Nothing stopped us.
New York, Boston, Chicago, cancelled their St Patrick Days's parade... Montreal would never cancel a party for a snow storm! So we took every snow removal truck, cleared St Catherine street completely and the surrounding streets. Painted the green line and had our Parade. Only because of that snow snow we have the longest continuous running St Patty's parade.!!
Transportation:
We are blessed with a completely weather proof, underground Métro which is not affected in anyway by snow. The buses run. Sometimes they maybe delayed due to narrow streets, cars getting stuck etc.. However they still run. However we have the option of our métro.
Snow storms bring the best out of Montrealers:
When there is a lot of snow. Montrealers help elderly neighbours clear snow, help cars stuck in snow by shovelling, pushing, boosting. We share taxis with strangers.
Neighbours with snow blowers clear driver ways for neighbours who don't have them.
We carry bags for people who have difficulty walking in snow.If someone is learning to skate we teach them and help them up. Someone is cold we show them how to warm up.
Different Boots for Different Types of Snow:
I know when someone is not from Montreal or has not been living her a long time when I see them wearing expensive leather boots in winter, or even worst stiletto heels in a snow storm.
Leather boots
Will be destroyed with the salt we put on the streets, that will get on to your boots.
If snowy we wear high boots... if its cold and dry we wear good boots with felt and fur inside.
If its slushy snow then we wear Sorel's with rubber for the foot part so that are feet stay dry.
If your feet are dry and warm.. you can spend the whole day doing whatever you like without feeling cold. However to enjoy winter you feet must be dry.
Don't have boots wearing hiking boots with good socks
Hands
I know you are not a Montrealer when you wear cute little leather gloves. The comment is always, well they were warm in the store when I bought them ??? Really.
Keep your hands warm best things are thick mittens. Your body heat from your hands and fingers will keep your hands warm. When you want to do something with your hands. Wear wool gloves then put your hand back in your mitts.
Head:
Keep your ears and head warm with a hood, hat and you can spend the whole day outside happy as a bug in a rug.
Coats:
There are different kinds of coat but the warmest for really cold days will be those with ( goose, duck down inside) or a fur coat such as beaver.
If you want to buy a proper winter coat then just see what Montrealers are wearing.
Those who are against animal products well you can get other types of coats but no way will they be as warm. you can also dress in layers but you should something against the wind.
Wet hair:
Ah never go out with wet hair in cold weather it will turn to ice if you don't wear a hat and if you wear a hat you will have a wet head all day which is not good for you .
When all the days activities are done.... Hot chocolate, hot soup for lunch and a nice glass of red wine in the evening is a great way to end the day...
Hope you enjoy the blog
Ruby Roy
Local Montreal Expert who is also a Montreal Professional Tourist Guide