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Driving in the Canadian winters can be such a challenge as most of us know. Whether it's ice or snow or freezing rain, road conditions can be very unpredictable. We need to be prepared in these conditions. Today, I will share a few of my tips for driving safely in the Canadian winters. 

First off, winter tires are a must have for safe winter driving (in Quebec, this is now the law). These tires have a deeper tread and are best on snow and ice. Goodyear still manufactures most of its winter tires in Canada. The deeper treading allows for the tire to clear the snow from it as it rotates. They also remain more flexible in colder temperatures as compared to an all-season tire. For maximum control on snowy and slippery conditions, it is recommended that you install four winter tires, even on a front-wheel drive vehicle.

There are ways to drive safer in the winter too. Ensure that you watch your speed and adjust your speed according to road conditions.  Slow down in really icy or snowy situations. Keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. Transport Canada has lots of excellent information about winter driving.

Many of us don't even think about the weather conditions outside when we go out to our heated garage and get in a warm car to go out. Before heading out on a long trip, it is advisable to check the weather conditions and road conditions. The Weather Network has a great page that breaks down this information by province and then you can further take it to you city. This way, you can be prepared before going out.

Also, make sure to call ahead before traveling. This way, someone will know to watch for you and ensure you arrive when scheduled.

A great new product made in Canada was just launched a few weeks ago: Dad's Wiper Covers. Slip them over your wipers to protect your wiper blades from freezing to your windshield. Simple and efficient!

 

There are a few must-haves that you should have in your car in case of an emergency. I call this my winter survival kit. This kit should contain:

• A cell phone and change for a payphone if the cell phone cannot be used;
• A first aid kit;
• A flashlight with batteries;
• A candle with a small tin can to keep it in and waterproof matches;
• A couple of granola or energy bars to snack on;
• A blanket;
• An ice scraper (check out Mallory Industries' line of scrapers and snowbrushes made in Canada);
• A shovel (Garant has a great Telescopic Emergency Shovel Snowbrush);
• Warning lights or road flares;
• Booster cables;
• Tow rope.

Of course, you should also carry along a snowsuit, winter boots, a warm hat, scarf and mittens.

If you do get stranded out in the winter, if you have a membership with CAA (Canadian Automobile Association) you can call their number to get roadside assistance. They will send a tow truck to help you regardless if it is a boost that you need or if you have a flat tire or need a tow.

One needs to be prepared for anything when driving in winter conditions. Please make sure you are well prepared and DRIVE SAFE!

Image sources: Flickr-Creative Commons, CAA

The holidays have come to an end, most of us have likely over-indulged in delicious holiday fare, and now it's time for those good old New Year's resolutions. I stopped making those many years ago, because I thought it was a bit ridiculous to come up with new resolutions only once a year. Instead, I give myself small goals throughout the year; that way I feel like I've accomplished so much more, rather than making a resolution at the beginning of the year and likely forgetting about it halfway through.

One of the things I do keep telling myself every year is that I really should go outside and play more in the snow. Seeing as winter is by far my least favorite season, I figure that if I go out and do fun winter activities, I won't find the season so long and dreary. We are very fortunate here in Montreal, as we have a lot of things going on in the city in the winter and many fun activities to do that are mere steps away from home. And if you're making those fitness resolutions, it can make keeping them somewhat easier.

One of Montreal's major attractions is Mount-Royal, or as the locals here call it "The Mountain". You can strap on your warmest La Canadienne boots, made in Canada of course, and take a nice, leisurely winter stroll to Beaver Lake, where you can do some ice skating, sledding or "crazy carpeting". The mountain is a great getaway, because as soon as you start walking up, you completely forget that you're in the middle of the city and it feels like you're hiking in a forest up North!

 

La CANADIENNE Annabella boots

If you're more of a city slicker like myself, there are many other fun things to do outdoors in the city in the winter that will entertain you and almost make you forget that it's cold outside. For the last few years, we've had a music festival here called Igloofest which usually runs for about 2 weeks (Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays) starting in mid January, at the Old Port of Montreal. It is basically a big music event with outdoor shows, DJ's, and dancing o' plenty. You'll really want to dress warmly for this one, sp take out all your best winter gear, fleece undergarments, your warmest Canada Goose coat and just dance the night away!

 

Women's Montebello Parka - Canada Goose

Another excellent way to have fun outdoors in the city is the Montreal High Lights Festival, which runs from February 21^st to March 3^rd this year, and has a ton of different activities to please everyone from the kids to the grandparents. It is one of the largest winter festivals in the world, combining both indoor and outdoor activities. It illuminates the city and is a pleasure for the eyes as well as the heart. When the sun goes down, brace yourself for a spectacular event filled with lights, fireworks, acrobats, digital projections and much more. The festival closes with a bang, with its ‘'All-Nighter'' celebrations where you can enjoy hundreds of free activities, shows both onscreen and onstage, all in the great outdoors.

    

So, as you can see, there is no shortage of fun to be had outside in Montreal in the winter; you just have to be prepared for the weather, which can be very unpredictable, and just go out there and enjoy everything winter has to offer.

What are YOU going to do outdoors this winter?

 

By Annie Curran

I know I am often found complaining about Winter, which is pathetic for a prairie girl who marches to work with her little girls in -30 temperatures. I do love the Winter; the crunch of the snow, the way the snow crusts over the tree branches and the way the sun turns the landscape into a sparkling wonderland. I don't love the wind or all the layers of clothes and sinking knee deep into snowbanks. What I dislike the very most are the short days; waking, dressing and travelling in the morning darkness and returning home in the dark as well.

This past week brought -40 temperatures to Southern Manitoba, but life keeps trucking on. I find when the weather becomes like this, I have no problem hibernating in the house, catching up on work or watching movies with the kids. We start to feel it after several days, though. Everyone gets a little cranky and if I don't occupy them, they'll occupy themselves, usually at the expense of my house. So here are few quick and easy tips to keep little ones busy, when the weather is keeping you inside.

• The Giant Cardboard Box: the stuff of endless adventures.
• Journal everything!! Be inspired by Canadian author/illustrator Keri Smith and draw everything you eat for one day or make a stain log. You'll need a journal for this, especially an eco-friendly and adorable one, made in Canada, from Eco Jot.

 

• Collage - Grab anything and everything paper from your Blue Box, including fliers, magazines, clean food wrappers and more or try the pantry for noodles, rice, dried beans and legumes to create a mosaic.

Some Canadians are not so lucky in the Winter; just dealing with a common case of Cabin Fever with a side of antsy, grumbling family members would be a walk in the park when compared to experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) , also known as 'the winter blues'. 

People with mild symptoms of SAD can offset them by trying to get as much sunshine as they can. Arrange your furniture and trim outdoor branches to maximize the light in your space. Go for a walk during lunch and add lamps to your space to brighten things up when the evening comes.  Another activity to boost your mood is simple exercise. especially helpful is a routine that was created earlier in the year. Bodyguard Fitness has several home gym systems to choose from and keep you active inside during the winter months.

 

 

People with more severe symptoms of SAD need to see their physicans for treatment. If you wonder if you're depressed or if you are concerned for someone else, visit Depression Hurts.ca for a questionnaire and more information.

What are your favourite ways to squash cabin fever and kick the winter blues? I know this little prairie girl could use some more ideas.

 

 Images courtesy of Flickr member Markusram, andrea willowcat and Bodyguard Fitness.

 

It's Christmas Eve and the sun is shining on the snow! It's a picture perfect day for driving and many of us will be doing just that sometime before the weekend is over. There are lots of drivers on the road doing their last minute shopping. Stress levels are getting higher as the final countdown begins and only one more sleep remains until the Big Day. Thank goodness that the road conditions will be the least of our worries.

Earlier this month, Winter snow shut down highways 401 and 402, stranding hundreds of motorists in Northern Ontario. Severe weather warnings were in effect all across Canada and we know, as Canadians, that we have several more months of such weather to come. 

  

                  Princess Auto Car Safety Kit

Sometimes, when listening to yet another news report of ice and snow and car crashes, I wish that all drivers had to be tested in snowy, icey conditions before being approved to drive. Every winter, the first snowfall brings all sorts of crazy accidents that could have been avoided with a little common sense.

Be prepared this winter! Make sure that your brakes are in perfect condition and all your fluids are topped off. Windshield fluid, and lots of it,  is a must have! Set aside some time to buy a prepared safety kit or to put together one for yourself to keep in the trunk of the car. A car road safety kit is a great gift  to give a new car owner, or anyone who doesn't have one, for Christmas!

  

                  Princess Auto Roadside Emergency Kit

What should your kit contain? Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Shovel
2. Sand, salt or kitty litter
3. Traction mats
4. Rope
   
5. Cloth or roll of paper towels
6. Warning light or road flares
7. Flashlight, batteries
   
8. Axe or hatchet
9. Booster cables
10. Ice scraper and brush
11. Matches and a candle
12. De-icer
13. Blanket
14. Extra gloves, hats, scarves
15. Bottled water and granola bars
    

Another thing, *shaking finger* please dress appropriately for the weather when you go out in the car, even if just driving to the convenience store. Don't wear your pyjamas and slippers, I beg you! I see this all the time! Dressing like this in the winter is nutty! What if you have a flat tire or get rear-ended? Remember Murphy's Law!

  

                  The Safest Way to Travel ?

If you have to drive this Christmas, take it easy. Leave early. Slow down. Keep your distance and know what is going on ahead of you. Keep your cool and don't lose your temper! And do I have to say don't drink and drive? Please! Don't drink and drive! 

Have yourself a safe and merry Christmas!

Will you be travelling this Christmas?

Today is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year and the official start of the Winter season. Tomorrow, the days will start to get longer again, as we head towards Spring, which is only 12 weeks away! What is really exciting about this Winter Solstice is that there is a also a Full Moon! But wait! There is also a Lunar Eclipse!  The last time that these three things occurred simultaneously was 372 years ago!

 

Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse from William Castleman on Vimeo.

By the time you read this, the lunar eclipse will have already occurred, but you can watch it happening on the video!

It's hard to imagine that, at one time, the sky was the only clock or calendar or map available. You had to really know how to read and understand the sky, if you wanted to go anywhere and find your way back, if you wanted to plant seeds that would have a chance to grow into food, or even if you just wanted to be safe from the elements.

My mom is always saying that, if she listened to the weatherperson, she would never wear the right coat. "Look out the window!" is my advice! Spectacular events like lunar eclipses get many of us looking up, but there are things going on in the sky all the time that deserve our attention. Amateur astronomy is a wonderful hobby for anyone and a great way to reconnect with Nature. Some good binoculars and a dedicated magazine, like SkyNews, can make a huge difference in your understanding and appreciation of the sky.
 

 

SkyNews, The Canadian Magazine of Astronomy and Stargazing, is among the best publications for novice stargazers and astrophotographers anywhere. Written in an easy-to-understand style by astronomy experts and edited by popular astronomy author Terence Dickinson, each full-colour issue carries amazing photos, columns, equipment reviews, how-to articles and the world's finest star charts (designed for night-sky viewing from Canada). It was named Best New Magazine in Canada in 1996.

 

We are so lucky to have an actual observatory near to where we live and no doubt there is somewhere similar close enough to you to visit. Tickets to an observatory, a telescope or binoculars, a subscription to a magazine such as SkyNews, would all make awesome gifts, for Christmas or birthdays, to an adult or a child! Throw in some of those glow-in-the-dark stars that you can buy and stick on the ceiling of your bedroom to look at when the lights go out and you have yourself a fantastic gift to give or keep!

A very happy Winter Solstice to you! Keep looking up! It's almost Spring!

Do you have binoculars?

:: images courtesy of  Magazines Canada, and CaptMondo.

From the moment I landed in Winnipeg, until I left, it snowed. And not just a light dusting. By the time I went to bed (around 11PM) and then left the hotel to make my way to the CityTV studio for the BT Winnipeg show, a block away (around 6AM), there was over a foot of snow and it was still falling. I'd left Montreal on Thursday and it was hot and sunny 6 degrees and landed to a cool -6 degrees and snowing. And to think I almost didn't bring my winter coat with me!

I was staying at my usual home-away from home - The Inn at the Forks. At the front desk, they knew me as the guest who "had all those boxes shipped to the hotel". I smiled and nodded. Indeed, that is I.

After having dinner at Current Restauramt and Lounge, the hotel's amazing restaurant, I went back to my room and assembled the products that needed assembling and rehearsed, as I always do.

I was expected at the studio at 6:15AM to be ready for 6:50AM, when the first segment would air. I have to admit, I was a little surprised at the amount of snow there was. That early, the show plows hadn't passed yet but not to worry I thought. I'll put all the products into the XC Charriot Carrier and cart it on over... I was excited at the idea that I was testing out the product, right before showcasing it on live TV. I  actually jogged, in my heels, pushing the carrier in the foot of snow all the way to the studio. I must've looked ridiculous but who cares... There was nobody around, except a cab driver who offered me a ride, which I didn't need.

The first segment was about making the best of winter - indoors. You can watch the first segment here or click on the image below.

 

Here are the companies we featured:  

• Luxurious Egyptian cotton towels by Cambridge Towel Corporation - Ontario
• Mouth blown, hand cut votive candles by NovaScotian Crystals - Nova Scotia
• Caprina Goat's Milk Skin Care Products by Canus - Quebec
  

A short while later, I was back on for the second segment. This time it was about making the best of winter - outdoors. You can watch the second segment here (or click on the image). 

• Icers, anti-slip soles by Lee Valley Tools - Ontario
• XC baby carrier, including the jogging kit and cross-country ski kit by Chariot Carriers - Alberta
• Cardio Coulou joger cover and mittens by P'tit Coulou - Quebec
  

While I was setting up the second segment, Luke Fritz, the Winnipeg Blue Bomber who was there to talk about his project for the Pepsi Refresh Challenge was eyeing the Chariot Carrier (he has a 1 year old)... To be honest, everyone was in love with it. And everyone loved the P'tit Coulou Cardio Cover and mittens. Genius and darling!

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 How will you make the best on winter?

Images source: BT Winnipeg

Author: Melissa Thibodeau

I am not the only one who gripes about how many more hours are required in one day. If we really needed more we could fly to Venus for their generous 5,832 hour day, except that the air quality isn't so great. Luckily, we can save ourselves the 38 million kilometre journey and be thrilled to get an extra hour this weekend, albeit at 2 in the morning. For those at you with night lives, last call has been extended! Those of you with kids...you'll be up to see the dawn, I'll have the coffee brewing!

  

Daylight savings time was first implemented in Germany in 1915 and was soon adopted by Great Britain, Europe and Canada, though Benjamin Franklin had first suggested the idea a century earlier. Because the Sun shines while everyone is still asleep, pushing the clocks forward in the Spring causes people to wake up earlier and be able to better use the Sun's light. That is why we 'spring ahead' the second Sunday of March and "fall back' the first Sunday in November.

  

In Canada, it is up to each province to decide to use daylight time, and most follow the program. The exceptions are most of Saskatchewan, who has remained on standard time since 1966 and is joined by some border towns in Manitoba and Alberta. There are some pockets of Ontario and BC as well as Quebec, north of 63 degree west longitude, who remain on Atlantic time year round. Frankly, it's all a little confusing. I wonder if it is really worth the effort? In the winter it feels like you travel to work in the dark and you trudge home in dark, making the little sunlight you do see, bliss, as it sparkles on the snow.

In a nutshell,  daylight savings was designed to help save energy by timing our lives better to the times that the Sun is available.

Now that you have this elusive extra hour in your life there are a few things that you must accomplish. This is the time of year to think about your smoke alarms and to check their batteries. It is important to have a working smoke detector on every floor and in every room used for sleeping. For more information about smoke alarms please read this Health Canada page.  While you are carting around the ladder, why not exchange your regular bulbs with energy efficient CLFs bulbs? Each one will save you $40.00 over the course of it's lifetime!

  

So, Canada, fall back one hour this Sunday morning, check your smoke alarms and change your bulbs and when all is said and done, you'll be safer, energy efficient and without that one gained hour! Who's taken the map to Venus?

Do you have routines for when it's time to set the clocks back one hour?

::Images courtesy of Flickr.

If you are dreading the thought of lugging Baby around this Winter, you will be thrilled to learn about P'tit Coulou®!

 

 

Buy Canadian First Member, P'tit Coulou®, is a 100% Canadian company, based in Quebec, offering parents an alternative method to protect Baby all-year-round.  It creates and markets innovative and practical comforters that fit any infant car seat or jogging strollers and are approved by Health Canada! You can find dealers who carry this product on and offline!

 

Savvy Grandmompreneur and Designer of P’tit Coulou®, Muriel Charbonneau, tells us how it all got started: "In December 1998, my oldest daughter gave birth to my second grandson. Each time she got the baby ready to go out, there was a serious crying match. The baby would resist being stuffed in a snow suit and the size of the suit made it difficult to strap baby into the car seat. Add to that the baby blanket and things were even more difficults. Each new outing was a serious challenge.

Why would baby wear such a non-friendly Winter suit? That is when the idea of a P’tit Coulou® was born. P’tit Coulou® is the friendly name I give my 4 grandkids. I wished to provide my two girls with a fast and easy way to travel and a comfortable but secure concept for my grandkids. Since then, hundreds of mothers use this revolutionary product built for the Canadian Winters. I am convinced that P’tit Coulou® will make your life easier and your Winter outings more enjoyable."


There is a very thorough review at Anaya, with specifications that include the CLO Value, which measures, among other things,  the thermal value of the garment (P’tit Coulou® has a CLO Value of 3.5 on a scale of 0 to 4 and a comfort zone of up to -25C.

The P’tit Coulou® Winter Collection is out now and can be viewed on their adorable  website.  Who could resist the Ladybug or Panda?

Watch P'tit Coulou on City TV!

Would having something like this change how you feel about taking Baby out in the Winter?

:: images courtesy of Buy Canadian First member P'tit Coulou®.

According to Statistics Canada, Canadian women gave birth to 367,864 babies in Canada in 2007, up 13,247 or 3.7% from 2006 and the fastest annual increase since 1989. Oh Canada, that's a lot of new babies! In the US, some of the highest number of births occur during the months of August and September. While I couldn't find the statistics for Canada I can't help but wonder if it's the same here in Canada;  those winter nights sure are long and cold. Winter is fast approaching and with it howling winds and buckets of rain, sleet and snow, and all us Canucks, especially the new ones, need to be prepared.

Unless the roads are closed we have to get up and go with babies in tow. Car seats and snowsuits can be a sticky wicket. In order for a car seat to be effective the straps need to lay close to a child's body. If a snowsuit is too thick and an accident occurs, the suit could compress, allowing enough slack in the straps that the child could be ejected. During the winter months, infants in rear facing seats should be dressed in warm clothing and their car seat should have a seat cover with a little peek-a-boo hole. The baby car seat comforters by our Buy Canadian First member P'tit Coulou, have to be some of the cutest I have ever seen, especially the lamb cover, too cute! For more car seat safety tips visit the message boards at Canadian Parents.com.

 

Of course it is in our blood to play in the snow. Who can resist our wonderland that is Canada filled with mountains, valleys and plateaus covered in snow? There are even  31 words about snow, from the Inuit, Aivilik and Igloolik languages. Proper gear for the little ones is a must for happy snow adventuring and our Buy Canadian First member Canada Goose has a fantastic duck down, one piece snowsuit designed for a full day of winter fun.

 

The biting winds and freezing temperatures can truly become a safety risk with little fingers and ears usually the first spots frost hits. You do not lose any more heat from your head than you do any other part of your body but any exposed area of skin will lose heat, which is why hats are so important. Gramma's Hat from member Apples and Oranges is one of many adorable hats.

 

When the day is done and we've all skipped from forced air heat to natural dry icy winds and baby's skin is just a little worse for wear, treat her to a soothing Oatmeal Milk Bath from member Fruits and Passion. Free of paraben, chemical dyes, sulphates, soaps (for cleansing products), alcohol (for eau de toilette) and petroleum derivates (mineral oil, silicones) it cleans baby's skin naturally and restores its protective hydrolipidic film.

 

It's a good thing Canadians keep making more babies. These child and baby products are just the icing on the cake of what Canadian manufacturers are creating to make life with baby a walk in the winter wonderland. What are your favourite Canadian made baby products and your winter care tips? Enjoy the fall, the snow is just around the bend!

 ::images courtesy of Buy Canadian First members.

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When old man winter finally eases up and the winter temperatures start to climb it's the perfect time to get outside. Indoor games, crafts and movie nights can lessen the effects of cabin fever but nothing quells it like getting out of the house. Your outdoor adventure need not take you far and wide, it can be a back yard affair.

Getting dressed
Before you head out the door it is important to dress for the weather, regardless of how mild it may be. A technique called layering is a perfect way to keep you dry and comfortable during your winter sport or activity. There are generally 3 layers; a base, mid and outer. The base layer is a snug fitting top and bottom designed to keep moisture away from your skin. Polypropylene, silk, polyester, Thermax, Thinsulate or wool are all good choices. Cotton is also a good choice if you are in your back yard or won't be perspiring too much as it tends to absorb moisture keeping the dampness close to your skin.

Stanfields has a great selection of Made in Canada long johns, as does Mountain Equipment Co-op .The mid layer should be looser but should also remain close to the base layer to create a good insulation as well as wick the moisture away from the base layer and transport it up to the outer layer. Mid layer choices include down, polyester, fleece, wool and  synthetic / natural blends like Butterfly French fleece hoody , by Respecterre or  TerraFrog's Travel Sweats. Your outer layer should be wind resistant and allow for moisture to escape via ventilation holes and other methods, such as the Ranger Parka by Integral Designs.

Head and fingers feet and toes
Obviously, our extremities are important and should be properly protected. Hats, mittens, gloves, scarves, socks and boots are designed to keep you warm, dry and safe. Always choose the right fabric for the activit. For example, hand-knit mittens from grandma may be a good choice it you are just going for a walk but not so great while making a snowman in the wet sticky snow. Buy Canadian First members La Canadienne , Barbo with the Flipgripz Women's winter boots, Rallye, Stonz and  Canadian Outfooters all have great boots for everyone!! Before slipping your toes into your boots why not wrap them in something cozy first? The adorable stripey wool socks from Les Bas de Julie are a fabulous choice.

 

The fun stuff: 10 great activities.
Now that we are happily bundled, lets have some fun outside!

1. Make a snow fort or castle. Dig out your pails and shovels and make your summer toys do double duty in the winter.

2 Go tubing. While you're digging out your pails look for your inner tube and fill it up with air.

3. Create a mini golf course in your backyard! You are only limited by your imagination.

4. Have a bonfire and roast some hot dogs and marshmallows.

5. After a fresh dusting of snow see what kind of tracks you can find.

6. Build a snowman and make some snow angels.

7. Set up targets throughout the yard and throw snowballs at it. Create a family biathalon, the winner gets to pick what restaurant the family will eat at.

8. Make a backyard skating rink.

9. Snowball fight!

10. Snow painting. Fill up various spray bottles and squeeze bottles with coloured water and make a painting in the snow.

The snow will soon be melting and in a few weeks it'll be but a memory. So bundle up and have fun Canada!

 What are your favourite winter activities?

Image source: BuyCanadianFirst.ca