Hello everyone

We are in the process of immigrating over to Calgary. House is now on market and I am now getting a bit apprehensive about whether we are doing the right thing. I am convinced it is the right place to bring up our kids as we came in the summer for three weeks. The problem is I cant picture in my head what the wintertime will actually be like and whether we will all be to cope with temperatures like -30. Just wanted to here from people who are already in Calgary, what your experience was like and what things you can do with your children on weekends as I cant picture children playing outside. My husband works three weekends out of five and I take the kids swimming, soft play, park etc. I have heard that Calgary is very sunny in winter and it can be -15 in morning and then through the day get warmer. I feel like I am living my dream of moving to Canada, but a lot of people put doubts in your head by making comments like "you will be stuck in the house in the winter" and "how are the kids going to get to school when it is -30" etc etc. Please help me prove to them that it is not all that bad

Julie

In the winter the kids stay in watch TV and eat junk food. Why do you think everyone in Canada is so Obese???

And on a serious note, assuming the kids are over 2, skating, ice hockey, skiing, Play dates, science museum, bowling....................

My daughter is 2, the weather doesn't stop us from going out in the winter! -15 is nothing, get wrapped up warm and go out and play, the kids love it especially with the snow. Ok so -30 is too cold to go out but its only that cold occassionally.

We had a picnic at South Glenmore park when it was -10c and glorious sunshine..........IMO its much nicer and easier to go out in the cold when its sunny than in the drizzle back in the UK.

If you are too wimpy to go out in the cold there is plenty to do in doors

Hi,

You'll only be stuck in the house if you choose to hide from the winter. By and large, the Canadians embrace the season and look for every opportunity to get out and play, be it hitting the ski slopes, ice-skating, ice-hockey, etc. We regularly see one of the locals here in Okotoks out on his skis, traversing the sno covered verges beside one of the main roads here. In our view, the Rockies are at their most stunning in the winter and through to Spring...eg...
http://janandeam.blogspot.com/2008/06/rockies-tour.html

OK, the coldest of days can be a bit unpleasant but until you get here, you wont really believe the truth, which is that even -10 to -15, on a beautifully sunny winter's day, blue skies and bright sunshine, feels better than yet another UK mid-winter damp squib of a cloudy day. For a day to day (not dreadfully scientific) account of coping with the weather here, then take a look at our weather watch.
http://weatherwatchab.blogspot.com/
The weather was one of our big concerns in coming here. But it's fine...don't worry. That said, it's still bloody snowing outside today. Grrrrrrrr!

Kind regards,

Eamonn & Janet.

You can damn well keep it too

Sitting round firepits drinking beer, hockey/skating on outdoor rinks, snowboarding/skiing, snowshoeing, pubs, walking in city parks...you just have to get out and make the most of it.

Hiya...
What everyone else said....My two boys are five and three...Older had lessons at COP at the age of three and is pretty bloody good now - does Sunshine no probs....He also skates and started ice hockey this past winter.... Younger one starting all that next winter....You know, when it arrives in August (hollow laugh!!!!!)

Calgary is at least set up for the cold....Just as well...!!! I shove my two outside for a while each day down to -15c. They cope!

Good luck....The winter is tough here - partic when it shows no sign of ending BUT....I think it is something you just have to experience before you know how you will cope!
HTH
Lisa

Have to agree about cold, we came here about 4 months ago and after a few days we had to be told it was -15, because it just doesn't feel like it. When we left Ireland it had been -5 for a few days and that felt colder, think it has something to do with it being so damp in England and Ireland.

It did drop to -30 on a few occasions - and that was too cold to venture out, but the kids are let play outside in schools once it doesn't drop past -20, the trick is too wrap up and be prepared.

Am in Okotoks too and it is still snowing again - getting a bit fed up of snow now - was talking to my canadian collegues this morning and even they have had enough, though they do tell me that this year has been out of the norm.

Anyway good luck with your plans

Anne

LOL. I see kids playing outside. Most on little slopes. But the winter is awful, Oh yes it is. You get used to it, but its harsh and hard on ya. Some little sprogs die from their head being stuck in snow banks.

Hey then spring hits, within a week your like Nar that was nothing. Canadian kinda of wakes and comes alive in the spring-summer-fall. Get you kiddies a Wii. Have a nosy in the library. Bound to be things on. Libraries are the best place to start. .

So, to summarize the replies so far, "It is all that bad".

The best thing about winter is the grateful appreciation it gives you for the rest of the year, which otherwise you would take for granted.

Something along those lines seems honest.

When my British friend moved here, she thought I was cruel for making my son walk to school in - something temperatures; I thought she was cruel for making her kids walk in the rain. So it is a matter of what you are used to.

It does gets cold in the winter but it isn't -30 every day. There's usually a week at the beginning of winter where it will be -20 to -30 for the week just to let you know winter is here. But life carries on as normal. Occasionally there will be warnings not to drive unless necessary, so you don't but then everything is fine the next day so you certainly won't be housebound for the winter.

There are plenty of things to do here.

We moved to Calgary in October, our kids are 3 and 18 months because it is so dry -10 doesnt feel like -10 its difficult to explain to people in the UK but it doesnt feel like I though -10 would feel. It is also blue sky and sunshine which makes a big difference to your pysche. the roads and sidwalks are always clears and the kids skate, toboggan and will be learnin gto ski and snowboard. We had a week at -35 before christmas that was unpleasant but apart fro that it was fine. We spent christmas evening tobagganing and skating which definately beat falling asleep and playing charades. Winter was really enjoyable.
Ps Obviously my 18 month year old didnt skate but sure enjoyed the toboganning

Are you sure you live in Calgary