Thanks Iaink, that's a brilliant link - I've bookmarked it

Hope I didn't give the impression I would be lounging around miserable all winter - I'm actually looking forward to trying all the things you can only do when it gets really cold and snowy (ice skating, snowmobiling, x-country skiing, building snowmen, snowball fights, blah blah...). I've always been more a winter person than a summer one, and I've lived in the French Alps (although I realise it's not quite as cold as a Winnipeg winter!).

On a different note, once we're settled and have been there a year or so, we may look into getting a dog again. How do they cope in winter? (assuming you don't have a long-haired breed (e.g. Tibetan Terrier, Lhasa Apso)). Presumably morning walks are out of the question in winter!

In my (very humble) opinion down filled coats are the way to go for warmth. The higher the down fill the warmer you should be. A good down fill rating would be 550 and up. As many of you know I work at a store that was started by the 'inovantor' of the down coat, a Mr Eddie Bauer, check out eddiebauer.com the winter coats are all rated cold, very cold, extreme cold and arctic cold (good to -48c) with a minimum down fill of 650. There is also the 3 in 1 systems to choose from. The prices at EB may make you gasp (they make me gasp) but I seriousley have customers say to me, I bought a coat 20 years ago and I think I need to replace it.....Alternatively the sales are fab.

I bought my down coat from Marks Work Wear House a couple of winters ago, just as the sales were starting in march, I think it was about $60. It's OK, no temp rating with it but it's warm enough to around -18.

As for gloves, walmart ones rated -22 work well, sno boots rated the same are I would say a must for anyone spending time outside (20 mins dog walking). I got columbia snowboots this summer from the shoe warehouse for $25, i'd gone in looking for sandals

As for kids, Zellers do really reasonably priced snowsuits that keep littluns toasty warm.

I'm not necessarily proud to admit this, embarrassed is more like.

I have been driving for 44 years in Canada never had a plan B and never had a problem. My work for 30 years was 10 miles west of Calgary just north of the Trans Canada highway.

So even though I do not under any circumstances suggest others do the same it does go to show that if you have a well maintained vehicle and a plan B then you will have very little to worry about.

Cheers
Steve

This Co. makes very warm jackets

http://www.canada-goose.com/home.htm

So does this one

Yeah, I bought one for about $100 in a sale last winter and combined with another layer underneath it was fine for -40 to -50C wind-chill. Too hot, if anything, for shovelling snow at -40.

I have thought about buying some 'proper' mountaineering gear designed for these temperatures, but so far I haven't succumbed; I'll see how I feel after another winter .

1st can't have Snow ball fights in the middle of winter in Winnipeg. Too cold the snow is just powder puffs.

Clothes isn't some much about temperature as length of time out in it.

For kids buy from sears or the bay they have kidsproof guarantee -- if the wear it out before they out grow it the replacement is free.

Toddlers and babies are normally in pushchairs with blankets wrapped around them and a blanket creating a cave like cover. That way the don't have to try warming up -40c when breathing. Just remember to unwrap them when you go into a store.

Walking the dog is easy you wrap up for an hours walk it will pee and come in you wrap up for a quick pee it runs away. All depends on the individual dog, seen some little ones out without coats others have to carry the dog out to pee. Our local off lease park has woodland trails so not exposed to the wind and you'll find loads of people out everyday.