Growing up in Manitoba, Wanda Bornn always loved the outdoors ? no matter what the weather.
?I remember as a kid going outside and laying in the middle of the front lawn in my winter clothes, just watching the northern lights,? said the producer of Edmonton?s Ice on Whyte Festival.
The well-known ice carving festival isn?t until January but the snow has fallen, meaning the season Edmontonians seem to love to hate has arrived.
But there is a movement afoot to change the city?s perception of winter.
For the Love of Winter, a strategy to turn Edmonton into a world-leading winter city, was released last month.
Ideas and goals include year-round patio and park use, better design of public space, improved use of light and colour palettes when it comes to construction, and more. There is also a desire to increase capacity and sustainability of winter festivals.
?There is an excitement in the city that probably plays out better in summertime right now only because we invested in summer,? said Coun. Ben Henderson, who co-chaired the think tank behind the strategy. ?If we want to attract the kind of people we need to attract here for the city to continue to prosper, then winter has to be just as exciting in its own way as summertime, and other cities have shown us that is more than possible to do.?
Bornn thinks that is the perfect place to start.
?I?d like for there to be something for families and visitors to do every weekend of the winter,? she said. ?Basically, what those organized activities do is they help to change the way people think about winter.?
That attitudinal shift is key, said Henderson.
?We?ve stolen our ability to have joy in winter, because we tried to make it go away and pretend it didn?t exist. That was a failed experiment.?
Helsinki, Finland: Many homes in cities and towns throughout Finland have saunas in them, and it is popular to sit in the sauna, and then run and jump straight into frozen seawater. Called avantouinti (or the Polar Bear Plunge), this activity is said to have medical benefits. In the country?s capital of Helsinki, ice swimming can be tried at the Kuusijarvi Recreation Centre located in Vantaa.
Edmonton?s winter festivals
Mill Creek Adventure Walk: Shimmering lights, music, fire and wild characters are seen during a winding January walk through the city?s Mill Creek Ravine.
Silver Skate Festival: The city?s longest running winter festival is held each February as an extravaganza of art, culture, recreation and sports programming.
Ice on Whyte Festival: An international ice carving competition is the highlight of this January festival, which also includes workshops, children?s activities and an infamous giant slide.
Deep Freeze Winter Festival: The Byzantine winter festival held in early January brings Ukranian, Franco-Albertan, Franco-African, First Nations and South American communities together through authentic food and cultural activities.
Canadian Birkebeiner Cross Country Ski Festival: The country?s largest classical-format cross-country ski festival runs each February, with events for all ages and abilities, as well as a Vikings? Feast.
illumiNITE: In late February from sundown one day until sundown the next, a light sculpture competition takes place in the Alley of Light downtown, as well as in Beaver Hills Park.
Source: http://metronews.ca/news/edmonton/426035/finding-joy-in-edmontons-winter-wonderland/
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