WINTER’S JOY
With the holiday season behind us and a brand new year under way, we hope this issue will encourage you to bundle up, get out there and enjoy yourself as we enter into what is traditionally the wintriest part of a Canadian winter—february.
I say “traditionally” because the sad reality of our current situation is that, thanks to climate change and global warming, the iconic Canadian winter—such a big part of our national identity and beloved by so many here and abroad—is at risk of becoming a thing of the past.
And with that risk comes great concern for our natural wonders and wildlife, including those mighty denizens of Canada’s Far North portrayed on our cover, the polar bear. Turn to Our Travels on page 20, where Brian Burnett, a naturalist photographer from Burlington, Ont., shares more of his awe-inspiring photos and a compelling account of his recent adventures in and around Churchill, Man., and gives all of us a glimpse at what is fast becoming a disappearing way of life.
On a lighter note, check out the incredible snow sculptures of Matt Morris on page 52, a self-taught and self-equipped snow carver from Burlington, Ont., who not only displays his work but offers up a bevy of tips to help you try out the craft for yourself!
And when it comes to being quintessentially Canadian, the game of hockey cannot go unmentioned. With that in mind, join Jesse Shupe of Weyburn, Sask., in “Hockey Heaven” on page 40, where he recalls playing in a 1973 Peewee tournament—and “a trip to one of the hockey temples in Western Canada at the time, the Winnipeg Arena.” Then, finish o with a leisurely glide “On Frozen Pond” for the sheer joy of a Canadian winter (page 44). Let’s enjoy it all, and preserve it for generations to come!