YES,

complain about winter: it is as Canadian as tired hockey clichés, health-care debates and HST (GST where applicable). As we move into dark February, even those of us who love winter acknowledge our climate can be trying: by some measures, Canada is the coldest country on Earth.

“Homo canadensis,” in both rural and urban habitats, has learned to adapt to the particular challenges of cold weather. Delving into our dens, we seek warmth and sustenance while our circadian rhythms track changing daylight and our metabolism increases. Some even migrate south for a few days or for many months.