Winters in Toronto - Self help guide for New Immigrants (PR's, Open Work Permit , Close Work Permit, Students)
Topic:
Winter Clothing
Importance of Winter Clothing
Winter Foods
Healthy and Tasty Foods during the Winter
Winter Activities
For Adults
For Children
Winters in Toronto - Self help guide for New Immigrants (PR's, Open Work Permit , Close Work Permit, Students)
1. Winter in Toronto
Sharing experience
(For Newcomers From Newcomers By Newcomers)
Developed and Created By:
Mufaddal Nullwala
01-Jul-2022
2. Topics
Winter Clothing
Importance of Winter Clothing
Winter Foods
Healthy and Tasty Foods during the Winter
Winter Activities
For Adults
For Children
Developed and Created By:
Mufaddal Nullwala
01-Jul-2022
3. Canada is often referred as a cold country and also it has
changeable weather. Cold weather can be hazardous.
Every winter in Canada, people suffer serious injuries, and even
death, from exposure to the cold. People should be aware of the
extreme cold risk and get prepared for that.
There are some tips that everyone should know and consider to
be safe and enjoy the beautiful winter in Canada.
1
4. Cold Weather Safety
1) Listen to the weather forecast
2) Plan ahead
3) Dress warmly
4) Seek shelter
5) Stay dry
6) Keep active
7) Be aware
5. Dress Warmly
The key point is layer dressing
● First layer or base layer
● Second or middle layer
● Third layer or outer layer
Accessories for hands, neck,
head, and feet
When you step out in the cold, bundling-up and
covering your whole body is essential to avoid getting
hypothermia and frostbite.
Common must-have fall/winter clothing
accessories:
● For hands: Gloves or mittens;
● For neck: Scarf or neck warmers;
● For feet: Socks that are made from wool or wool blend
with silk or polypropylene;
● For head and ears: Hat, toque, beanie, and/or ear muffs;
6. Dress Warmly
Coats and jackets are items you will wear almost every day during
fall and winter. So be sure to pick comfortable ones and look for
certain features like cuffs that can be tightened and a hood that fits
over your hat.
Having a hood is essential to protect yourself from wind chills. Fur
lining can be helpful too. These days many winter jackets come
labelled with temperature ratings, but it’s better not to rely solely on
those ratings as they can be subjective.
Don’t hesitate to ask the sales associate for guidance. Good quality
jackets (such as ones with down filling) tend to be expensive, but
it’s worthwhile to treat it as an investment
as you will be using the jackets for many years.
7. Footwear
Walking on snow and ice can be tricky and dangerous. Sidewalks
and roads can even get icy during winter. That’s why having a pair
of good winter boots that are warm, slip-resistant, and waterproof
are essential. Remember, damp socks can give you frostbite, so
always carry an extra pair with you. During the fall season,
however, regular ankle-length boots paired with socks may suffice
to keep
you warm.
Unless you have heated floors in your home, the flooring
can get very cold during winter. Since Canadians leave their shoes
at the door, having a pair of indoor slippers or using thick socks will
help you stay warm.
8. Winter Shopping
Many newcomers planning to arrive in Canada during fall or winter tend
to go shopping for winter wear in their home countries. While it’s advisable
to purchase some essentials to get through the initial days, you will find more variety
and have access to clothing and accessories that are specifically built
to withstand Canadian weather if you buy your winter gear in Canada.
This is especially true if you’re moving from temperate or tropical countries.
In Canada, all popular retailers and brands have sales at the start and end
of seasons. The Canadian Thanksgiving weekend in October, as well as the Black
Friday weekend in November, are also popular times to find great deals. You can sign
up for newsletters and mailers from your preferred brands
or retailers and stay up-to-date on all upcoming sales.
9. Winter Foods
The most important part of surviving and enjoying the winter
Let’s dive in and get to know some interesting facts
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10. 1. Butter Tarts
This sweet pastry treat is made with a
mix of butter, sugar, syrup, and egg
filled into a soft pastry shell.
Some prefer it with raisins and some
without, but we can all agree the
classic Canadian butter tart is straight-
up yummy.
11. 2. BeaverTails
Not to be confused with an actual
beaver’s tail, this tasty pastry is pure
fried goodness topped with sugary
temptations.
It’s shaped like a beaver tail, hence the name, and there
are tons of flavours to choose from. You can buy them at
BeaverTails shops scattered throughout Canada, and there
are even shops in the U.S., Mexico, France, and Japan!
12. 3. Maple Taffy
In Canada, snow is so abundant that
it’s even used to cook!
To make maple taffy, a sugar snack
often sighted at winter festivals, you
can boil maple sap into hot syrup and
drizzle it onto fresh snow.
The Canadian delicacy is then lifted
with a popsicle stick and enjoyed like
candy..
13. 4. Mulled Apple Cider
A warm mulled beverage is the perfect drink
to sip on during a frigid winter evening in Canada,
and mulled apple cider is probably one of the most
common of the bunch!
Usually mixed with spices such as star anise and
cinnamon sticks, as well as fruits, this comforting
drink is easy to make.
You can also choose to add alcohol
for an extra kick.
14. 5. Perogies
Commonly eaten in the Canadian prairie provinces,
perogies (also written pierogi)
are a delicious filled dumpling with origin
from Central and Eastern Europe.
They can be stuffed with potato, cheese, bacon, and
more, and they taste absolutely perfect
with their typical sour cream topping.
There’s also a giant perogy statue in Glendon, Alberta,
showing you exactly how important
the food is viewed in Canada.
15. 6. Poutine
We can’t leave out Canada’s most
quintessential food dish, can we?
Poutine is a Canadian speciality that can
be enjoyed any time
of the year, but something about the
hard-to-resist concoction of fries, gravy,
and cheese curds just works so well for
a comforting bite to eat in the winter.
16. Winter Activities
There are plenty of things to do in Toronto in the winter like going
sledding, visiting Christmas markets, hiking through snowy
ravines, or skating at one of its numerous rinks.
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19. 3. Christmas markets
1. The historic Distillery
District may be known for its
festive Christmas Market.
2. Nathan Phillips Square
Holiday Fair. The square
gets a complete holiday
makeover every year near
Christmas time.
3. Evergreen's Winter Village.
While skating under a highway may not seem like the most amazing thing to do, trust me, this one is worth checking out. The Bentway is a 1.5 km figure-eight skating trail that runs under the Gardiner Expressway. It is very popular with skaters of all ages and experience levels, and for good reasons!
If you have ever tried sledding (or tobogganing) before, you would know that satisfying feeling of gliding through the snow. This activity is usually associated with little kids, but I cannot disagree more.
One of the best places in Toronto for sledding is Riverdale Park, near Danforth and Broadview Ave. With its steep slopes, convenient location, and epic skyline views, it’s not hard to see why this park is so popular with sledders of all ages. There’s also a skating trail and a little farm to visit nearby!
3. Starting Saturday, November 30, 2019, the historic brick factory nestled in Toronto’s Don Valley will be transformed into Evergreen’s Winter Village. Visitors can skate on the picturesque outdoor skating rink, shop locally-crafted and sustainably produced goods at the Holiday Market and enjoy tasty eats and drinks.
Explore Casa Loma’s Christmas at the Castle
Every year near Christmas time, the castle and its gardens turn into a winter wonderland. All the dazzling decorations and light displays are even more spectacular when everything is covered by a blanket of snow. The Casa Loma holiday light tour, which takes place annually, is something definitely worth checking out.
Toronto's favourite holiday tradition, The Nutcracker is a spectacular production, alive with magnificent sets and costumes
Have a Festive Drink at the Thirsty Elf.
The Thirsty Elf pop up bar is back again for its third year in a row at the Fairmont Royal York and it’s one adults only activity that you definitely won’t want to miss this holiday season.
One of the most unique things to do in Toronto in the winter season is driving through the Snow Magic trail at Ontario Place. It’s a short drive-thru route that weaves around 17 art installations by well-known Canadian artists. There’s a Northern Light exhibit, a castle exhibit, and a car-sized angler fish exhibit, just to name a few.
Toronto is lucky to be inundated with trails and green space. It can be a bit tough to navigate the grounds in the winter with all that snow, so why not slap some showshoes on? You can rent snowshoes at a variety of sports stores, either for the day, weekend, or a full week, with prices ranging from $20-$50. Some great trails include King’s Mill Park Trail, west of the Humber River, or Bronte Coronation. For a more relaxed, scenic, and laid-back route, try the Edwards’ Garden trail.
One of the most unique things to do in Toronto in the winter season is driving through the Snow Magic trail at Ontario Place. It’s a short drive-thru route that weaves around 17 art installations by well-known Canadian artists. There’s a Northern Light exhibit, a castle exhibit, and a car-sized angler fish exhibit, just to name a few.
Me neither till this year but you better believe Winterfest is something you have to experience!
You can quite literally step into a world of holiday magic select evenings from Nov 13th to Dec 14th and it’s something everyone big or small will enjoy.
Did you know that every holiday season Canada’s Wonderland turns into a festive winter wonderland straight out of your holiday dreams?
(20 nov)
Toronto is lucky to be inundated with trails and green space. It can be a bit tough to navigate the grounds in the winter with all that snow, so why not slap some showshoes on? You can rent snowshoes at a variety of sports stores, either for the day, weekend, or a full week, with prices ranging from $20-$50. Some great trails include King’s Mill Park Trail, west of the Humber River, or Bronte Coronation. For a more relaxed, scenic, and laid-back route, try the Edwards’ Garden trail.
The Parade route runs from Christie Pits along Bloor Street West, south on Avenue Road/Queen’s Park Crescent/University Avenue to Front Street West, and east along Front to St. Lawrence Market. The Toronto Santa Claus Parade (also known as The Original Santa Claus Parade) is an incredible parade held each year on the third Sunday of November in Toronto. This iconic parade attracts more than half a million people who come out to see it each year.
Since 1905, the Santa Claus Parade has kicked off the Christmas season in Toronto and has been an important part of the holiday season in the city.
Experience the magic at this year’s Santa Claus parade and enjoy watching the many extravagant floats, marching bands and dancers before witnessing the big man himself!
This is such a great family friendly activity to do at Christmas time in Toronto.
Pic Credit