+1(514) 937-9445 or Toll-free (Canada & US) +1 (888) 947-9445

Your First Winter - Just for Laughs!!

A

achander

Guest
Hi all,

I know many of you out there are experiencing your first Canadian Winter and probably your first Winter (I mean temps below -20C, Snowfall).
What are your experiences? I remember when I moved to the US in 2002 and experienced my first every snowfall (I lived in the Middle-east before that), it was insane. After having lived in US/Canada now for more than 10 yrs, I hate snow. I don't mind the cold but i hate the snow :p

It would be nice to hear from all the newbies!!

cheers ;D
 

amikety

VIP Member
Dec 4, 2011
4,905
143
Calgary
Category........
Visa Office......
CPP-O
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
15-01-2013
AOR Received.
2-2-2013
Med's Done....
12-10-2012
Passport Req..
9-07-2013
VISA ISSUED...
7-08-2013
LANDED..........
7-08-2013
I grew up 4 hours south of Ontario. Coldest is ever reached was -27 (once).

Then I spent 9 years in Atlanta.

Last winter was my first. By March, I was ready for spring. Snow in April was annoying. Snow in May? Ready to pull my hair out. Snow and cold don't bug me, but by March it's done! I'm used to planting my garden in March!

Also at -40 my eyelashes froze together. Not a fun experience.
 
A

achander

Guest
hahahaha..I love the last part. Well i live in Edmonton, we got our first major snowfall first week of November. It was 25cm :eek:
I was driving at a whooping 15km/hr :p

So my co-worker tells me he was in Edmonton few years back in the winter, one time the temp was -40C but with wind chill it felt like -55C..I was like f**k you!! He said "yup, that's exactly what i said" :D
 

Sabre

Full Member
Jul 26, 2012
21
2
124
Alberta
Category........
Visa Office......
CPP-Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
24-05-2012
AOR Received.
16-07-2012
File Transfer...
23-07-2012
Med's Done....
23-02-2012
Passport Req..
28-12-2012
LANDED..........
The day after we receive COPR
My wife is experiencing her first REAL winter. I laugh whenever she says it's cold and the thermometer says -11. LOL She almost hits the floor when I tell her it can hit -55 with the wind chill. ;D
 

amikety

VIP Member
Dec 4, 2011
4,905
143
Calgary
Category........
Visa Office......
CPP-O
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
15-01-2013
AOR Received.
2-2-2013
Med's Done....
12-10-2012
Passport Req..
9-07-2013
VISA ISSUED...
7-08-2013
LANDED..........
7-08-2013
We're on the third snowfall already in Calgary. Largest was about 20cm (at least in my area, we measured!). Due to snow tonight!

My husband has told me I'm not allowed outside at -60. I'm not about to argue.
 

CharlieD10

VIP Member
Sep 5, 2010
5,849
185
123
Northern Ontario
Category........
Visa Office......
KGN
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
15-02-2011
File Transfer...
09-05-2011
Med's Done....
17-01-2011, 08-03-2012
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
30-3-2012
VISA ISSUED...
13-04-2012
LANDED..........
06-06-2012
This will be my second winter overall, but my first in Canada. My husband is fond of saying a NY winter has nothing on winter in northern ON. I have to admit, I find it enchanting to look at, but to be in, not so much. When my husband says "High of -3 today" I go "Um, yeah, so minus and high in the same sentence doesn't really compute for someone used to averages that never go lower than 22 *C"!

Basically, I layer up like nobody's business, and make sure I'm comfortable. I have learned NOT to dress in the same amount of layers as my husband, his tolerance for the cold is not mine (i.e. mine is non-existent!). We had about 15cm overnight last night, and I'm hoping that's it for awhile.
 

Canooknic

Hero Member
Sep 20, 2010
658
22
England
Category........
Visa Office......
London
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
LANDED..........
17th May 2011
I had my first Alberta winter last year (since I was a child anyway) and I was so happy that it was a mild one - especially in comparison to the previous year.

My biggest laugh was when a TV news report advised that due to the temperature skin exposure over 5 minutes would cause frost bite. I emailed the link to our friends in England and watched as Facebook exploded with "WTF" comments!!
Throwing my little boys into snow drifts was probably my greatest moment last year though - just like my big brothers used to do to me! It's the simple things in life ;D
 

Pigey

Star Member
Nov 7, 2011
114
2
124
Alberta, Canada
Category........
Visa Office......
Case Processing Centre Ottowa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
24-05-2012
AOR Received.
16-07-2012
File Transfer...
23-07-2012
Med's Done....
23-02-2012
Interview........
Waived! WOOT!
Passport Req..
28-12-2012
VISA ISSUED...
08-01-2013
LANDED..........
19-01-2013
Sabre said:
My wife is experiencing her first REAL winter. I laugh whenever she says it's cold and the thermometer says -11. LOL She almost hits the floor when I tell her it can hit -55 with the wind chill. ;D
Sabre is my husband. We have had many conversations where I say things like. "Wow, it's -11, it's really cold..." to which he replies, "Meh, it's no so bad..." and he goes off to work in a hoody.

Driving is a challenge. Yesterday I hit some ice when stopping at an intersection. The truck did stop, but I was thankful there was no one around to see me doing tourist driving.

For the record, I love the cold and the snow.
 

CharlieD10

VIP Member
Sep 5, 2010
5,849
185
123
Northern Ontario
Category........
Visa Office......
KGN
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
15-02-2011
File Transfer...
09-05-2011
Med's Done....
17-01-2011, 08-03-2012
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
30-3-2012
VISA ISSUED...
13-04-2012
LANDED..........
06-06-2012
Pigey said:
Driving is a challenge. Yesterday I hit some ice when stopping at an intersection. The truck did stop, but I was thankful there was no one around to see me doing tourist driving.
I have a driving lesson tomorrow afternoon. Definitely tourist driving in addition to my own unique version of little old lady driving. Oh joy! :-[
 
A

achander

Guest
When it snowed few weeks ago here in Edmonton, it took me 1hr 15min to get home from work. Well that doesn't sound too bad, but i only live 8km from where i work :eek:

I was glad a lot of people were driving slow and being cautious. Today's snow wasn't bad at all. They said 15-25cm of snow.
 

Canooknic

Hero Member
Sep 20, 2010
658
22
England
Category........
Visa Office......
London
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
LANDED..........
17th May 2011
achander said:
When it snowed few weeks ago here in Edmonton, it took me 1hr 15min to get home from work. Well that doesn't sound too bad, but i only live 8km from where i work :eek:

I was glad a lot of people were driving slow and being cautious. Today's snow wasn't bad at all. They said 15-25cm of snow.
Apparently it's still coming tonight! No sign of it in Stony Plain yet though
 

R151NG5UN

Hero Member
Jun 28, 2012
634
18
Category........
Visa Office......
London
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
28 May 2012
AOR Received.
09 July 2012. 2nd stage AOR: 23 Oct 2012
Med's Done....
01 November 2011 (Expired)
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
Exempt
VISA ISSUED...
11/12/12
LANDED..........
12/12/12
achander said:
When it snowed few weeks ago here in Edmonton, it took me 1hr 15min to get home from work. Well that doesn't sound too bad, but i only live 8km from where i work :eek:

I was glad a lot of people were driving slow and being cautious. Today's snow wasn't bad at all. They said 15-25cm of snow.
Ha ha ha.

You should come try London to do 8km in 1hr 15 in the summer would be quite the achievement let alone winter. Traffic in Canada is a dream to anybody who lives anywhere near to London :p
 

TSauretBaxter

Hero Member
Jun 6, 2012
668
4
Alberta
Category........
Visa Office......
Mexico
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
Received 29-03-2012
Doc's Request.
PGR Aug 17-12
AOR Received.
Sponsorship Approved July 3-12/ Mexico AOR Aug 17/12
Med's Done....
February 2012
Interview........
Waived!!
Passport Req..
Sept 12-12
VISA ISSUED...
Sept 19-12
LANDED..........
Sept 21-12
I'm in Northen Alberta and winter has come very early this year. It's -28 right now. Just after my husband came.. he was coming home after working nights and the windows on the car were all frosted up, and he didn't know what to do. There was no snow scraper as I wasn't expecting the cold weather so early, so he drove home freezing with the windows rolled down!! haha
 

Canooknic

Hero Member
Sep 20, 2010
658
22
England
Category........
Visa Office......
London
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
LANDED..........
17th May 2011
R151NG5UN said:
Ha ha ha.

You should come try London to do 8km in 1hr 15 in the summer would be quite the achievement let alone winter. Traffic in Canada is a dream to anybody who lives anywhere near to London :p
Absolutely right! I definitely don't miss the UK traffic!!
 

amikety

VIP Member
Dec 4, 2011
4,905
143
Calgary
Category........
Visa Office......
CPP-O
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
15-01-2013
AOR Received.
2-2-2013
Med's Done....
12-10-2012
Passport Req..
9-07-2013
VISA ISSUED...
7-08-2013
LANDED..........
7-08-2013
TSauretBaxter said:
I'm in Northen Alberta and winter has come very early this year. It's -28 right now. Just after my husband came.. he was coming home after working nights and the windows on the car were all frosted up, and he didn't know what to do. There was no snow scraper as I wasn't expecting the cold weather so early, so he drove home freezing with the windows rolled down!! haha
Poor thing!