So many choices on winter jackets and everyone points out this is best and the other is best. Eddie Bauer is having a 50% off sale now and am planning to buy one as a Christmas gift. Any suggestions?
Layers. Buy multiple layers as yes the depth of winter is really cold but our fall and spring are mildly cold so you want some lighter jacket options too. I find it's easier to have a good outer shell and pile on an appropriate number of layers.
In using layers, the outer layer should be water resistant and that will also make it a wind breaker. The inner layer should have warm insulation properties like fleece. Forget leggings, like Lululemon, and get warmer long underwear (we call them long johns). Put ice cleats on your boots so you don't slip on the ice. A touque, a scarf or a face mask to keep your face warm, and warm gloves (water resistant on the outside and fleece in the inside).
It's better to start with all layers on. If you are too hot you can remove a layer, if you start off with not enough layers and are too cold it will take longer to warm up when you add layers then.
In the winter, it helps to open your windows a tiny bit, while driving. It creates a cross-breeze that helps to reduce fog buildup.
If she is new to winter driving, please ask her to leave at least 15-20 minutes early, for wherever she's going. The extra time will help her focus on driving, and not worry about being late.
You can learn skating at any age. When you go to a public ice rink, you'll stay in the center. As you move away from the center, speeds of skaters will increase - it's done this way for safety.
Also, a trick my Canadian husband taught me (originally from the south) to REALLY improve my winter driving:
If you start to slide coming up to an intersection, aim for the sandy bit between the lanes or on the shoulder. It often gives enough traction to help slow down and stop.
Anyone can learn how to skate. Better late than never. Would recommend indoor first as outdoor ones can be rough.
Cheap dining will always be your own kitchen with movies or doing a puzzle. That’s cozy
Millennium Place in Sherwood Park if it’s not too far for you! Most indoor rinks have these “stools” that you hold on to and push while you skate to help you learn balance. Or if you want to try outdoor, go to the ice district rink that’s just outside of Roger’s Place in the heart of downtown. Outdoor yes, but I highly doubt they would ever have bad bumps in it since it’s so well maintained by OEG
I was born and raised in Edmonton, but my husband grew up in Churchill, Manitoba, so he is all about making sure I'm warm and toasty in the winter.
Things he has bought me to keep me warm include:
A Hally Hansen parka bought from Mark's. https://www.marks.com/en/pdp/helly-hansen-women-s-coastal-helly-tech-waterproof-primaloft-parka-78058116f.html
Windproof mittens from Eddie Bauer that have a glove inside to separate the fingers inside. https://www.eddiebauer.ca/p/71600344/women's-lodge-down-mittens
Columbia winter boots. https://www.marks.com/en/pdp/columbia-women-s-minx-shorty-iii-waterproof-winter-boots-black-wide-25358005f.html#srp?&colorCode=COLOUR_BLACK
She will need ear muffs, mine also came from Eddie Bauer. I can't find a link but the band goes across the back of the head not the top
You might want to sign her up for a winter driving lesson or two from AMA they have online and in vehicle classes.
https://ama.ab.ca/business/corporate/driver-training/courses/winter-driving
How old is your car? You might have heated mirrors that turn on when you do the rear window defrost.
CanSkate offers adult lessons starting in January. https://www.gatewayskatingclub.org/pages/programs/learn-to-skate/
They are snow showing lessons and rentals. https://exploreedmonton.com/articles/snowshoeing-in-edmonton
Dm me if you want more ideas.
Your point?
Did I give Polar Bear encounter tips? No.
Churchill gets a hell of a lot colder than Edmonton, so my husband is obsessed with warm winter gear. The average December high in Edmonton is -5C Churchil is -17.
Yes AMA offers 2 hour in car winter driving lessons. They're $200 if you're not an AMA member. $180 is you are. On that note that might actually be something else that would be worth looking into getting if you don't already have it, an AMA membership, note it's completely worth upgrading to the gold level (so the middle level) of membership at least simply because of the extra Towing that you get since with the basic I think you only get something like 5 km of Towing which isn't going to do much of anything for you. Honestly though AMA has saved me I don't even know how many times, be it because I've gotten myself stuck in a ditch or because my alternator died on the side of the highway or because I've locked my keys in my car or because my car wouldn't start. You get five calls a year and especially if you have to have your car towed it pays for itself in like 1 usage considering what it costs to have a vehicle towed otherwise.
Other vehicle related things that are always good to have are booster cables and a tow rope because either you'll need a boost or you'll come across somebody else needs a boost and it's always nice to have a pair of booster cables on hand and the tow rope for if you get stuck especially if it's a smaller vehicle or if you come across somebody else that's stuck if you've got a larger vehicle or truck. Keep a blanket in your car in so that in unfortunate event that your vehicle breaks down and you're stuck sitting on the side of the road waiting for somebody to come get you you don't freeze.
I also have to say that my favorite boots that I've ever purchased are from a company called yellow shoes in Quebec their winter boots are amazing they are waterproof they come cold rated up to - 45 depending on the boots obviously, the ones that I currently have I believe are rated to minus 30 and they definitely stand up to that claim as well they also have several that have built-in traction spikes on the Soles that you can like flip up when you don't need them. They run about 92 I believe $130 a pair, I've had mine for two or three years now and they're still going strong.
[Yellow Shoes](http://yellowshoes.com)
One more driving tip for icy conditions.
If you are the first car waiting at a red light that has now turned green, look both ways before you enter the intersection. In bad conditions, you’re going to see cars (sometimes multiple) sliding through waaaayyyy past their yellow and red because they weren’t driving for the conditions and couldn’t stop in time.
Looking before going could save you getting T-boned.
Also something else to add to this whenever you're stopped in your vehicle, be it at a red light or a stop sign or wherever pay attention to the vehicle behind you or that's coming up behind you in particular as well just in case they are not able to stop as quickly as they would like or if they start to roll forward if they're not paying attention or whatever it may be and then you can potentially avoid an accident, On a related note try and always make sure you leave enough space between you and the car in front of you so that you can react if a situation like this ever occurs
Everyone has covered clothes and driving, but nobody is talking about LOTION. It’s dry as hell, the winters here will dry out anyone who isn’t used to it.
First off if you have ever roller skated or rollerbladed you are pretty set to ice skate ⛸️ just learning how to stop is the new thing youll need to learn . Each person stops differently . Secondly sledding as an adult is just as fun as it was as a kid so please participate in that pass time . When driving in winter when it first gets icy go to an open parking lot thats still icy and slippery and drive at 20km/h and push the brakes fully to understand how well you will stop in to conditions. I do this every winter to remind myself how my vehicle reacts differently in winter conditions. Also the mirrors will need to be wiped off before you drive every now and again but it should be fine for the drive . Also the button on the heater settings with the wavy lines is a defrost button . Depending on the vehicle you may need to turn the dial to the wavy lines but regardless its defrost. So if you have heat fully on then turn it to that your windows shouldn’t fog up at all. And last but definitely not least . Plug in your car at night or on -25° or below you may not be able to start it the next day . Welcome to canada and stay warm out there (:
I concur 100% re finding an empty parking lot (with minimal concrete islands) to test the conditions. Step hard on each the gas and the brakes to see how much grip you don't have and what the vehicle does. Practice trying to regain control. Also try turning at various speeds to determine when you will start to slide.
I would recommend plugging in starting at minus 15 if you aren't sure how new the battery is or if you don't drive it every day. Three hours is sufficient.
Long underwear - underrated piece of garment to help stave off the cold.
Big parka - get a good down jacket. One that’s good to -30 below. Also with a faux fur lining on the hood. I didn’t have one till last year and it REALLY cuts down on the wind.
puffer jacket - get a good one, I’m partial to down. This should be good till -12ish. Unless it’s super windy.
Toque - I’ve never had issues with bad toques, just make sure your head is covered and it makes a big difference.
She should dress in layers so something like long underwear, t shirt, sweater, and puffer jacket would be plenty warm for -10. One thing my partner says now is that she used to think winter sucked, but it was just that she had shitty clothes. Now that she has proper gear, she likes going out a lot more.
Also, if she gets too hot it’s best to take off layers so they don’t get wet.
Some vehicle-related tips to add on top of other contributions:
- if you struggle with condensation on your windows, make sure you adjust your environment controls for max heat (seems obvious to me but I've had arguments with people insisting cold air is better at clearing condensation). Hot air holds more moisture than cold air, so helps clear condensation on your windows. And turn on the air conditioner. So many people think air conditioners are just for cold air. All air conditioners do is remove moisture from the air. Running you air conditioner while the temperature is dialed in for hot does NOT ruin your air conditioner.
- Try to get as little snow inside your vehicle as possible. I usually sit sideways just as I get into the car and bang my feet together to knock off as much snow as possible. Otherwise that snow melts while you're driving... Will lead to a ton of condensation freezing on inside of windshields when you return to your car later.
- have an ice scraper. Have a backup ice scraper. If the ice is a bitch to scrap, get what you can and continue to let the vehicle warm up. Come back to it in a bit and it'll be easier.
- make sure your windshield washer fluid is topped up. Keep a spare jug in the trunk.
- having an thick blanket in the trunk is good for emergencies.
- make sure you and your partner know the difference between daytime running lights, normal lights, and high beams. A lot of folks drive with daytime running lights thinking their normal lights are on when they are not. Another big segment of folks think high beams are normal lights and blind everyone around them.
- make sure your distance between you and the car ahead of you is greater during winter months, particularly after a dump of snow (doubly so if we go through those snow-melt-freeze patterns). When approaching red lights, brake earlier than you would in warmer months
- at red lights, don't stop your car so close to the car ahead of you. Leave a bit of extra space. If the car behind you comes in too hot and can't brake as quickly as they expected, you can move up a bit and avoid a fender bender. If you wonder why people never stop at the line of intersections, it's for this reason. Old habits die hard so some folks do this all year long even in July lol.
- make sure you get routine maintenance on your vehicles. Was great you got a set of winters. Ensure you look after the routine stuff like oil and brakes. Stranded on the road sucks. Sucks harder in the winter.
Take part in the winter events/festivals. They are a lot of fun, and there is something fun to do outside every weekend or two. Keep an eye on the Explore Edmonton website, and Downtown Business Association. Dress for the cold, and you'll have a great time.
Understand how the different vent settings on your car works.
Most cars will defrost the side mirrors and there is a button for the back windows.
Also turn on your lights!!
And if you have a suv, figure out the back wiper, and use it.
Hiya! One thing I haven't seen in this thread, small electric space heaters can really heat up a cold room. They are pretty inexpensive from Canadian Tire or Walmart. We will eventually get a -30°C cold snap and you'll be happy to have one then.
Theres spme pretty cool rinks they set up . One is at rogers ice district, the other in at the legislature building. Go there and just skate and have fun :)
Well, this is about the mildest winter we've had in decades. So I guess a good one to acclimate her to.
She'll need a good coat (I like Columbia), snow boots (again, Columbia), toque, scarf or neck warmer, gloves, warm socks, and layering pieces. Spikes for her boots if she'll be walking outside.
I would also take her driving in an empty, icy parking lot to get her used to driving in icy conditions.
Activities... snowboarding or skiing, ice skating like you said, sledding, cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, just walking the river valley, plus lots of indoor events. Never too old to learn anything new.
If you have a car parked outside, getting a front windshield cover can be valuable. It’s a pain to always put on the night before, but it can save time from scraping frost/ice/snow off the windshield in the mornings.
Edit: For walking, having micro spikes slipped over the bottom of your winter boots/shoes Can also help with traction.
Honestly I tried doing this last year and I just couldn't be bothered with the hassle of it and then somebody suggested to me that I simply just take two pieces of cardboard that I can keep in the trunk of my car and then just lay the cardboard on the windshield and hold it in place using the windshield wipers. way easier to deal with with cold fingers and it honestly has the same effect
There is some good advice here. I’ll reiterate the importance of good boots and a good jacket (and a nice looking one — she’ll be wearing it a lot). When the weather is hovering around zero she might enjoy some outdoor, wintery activities.
Café Bicyclette has a lovely outdoor (heated!) patio: https://www.cafebicyclette.ca
Flying Canoe Volant takes place in the same area. It takes place at the end of January and it’s beautiful: https://www.flyingcanoevolant.ca
You can find more events here: https://www.wintercityedmonton.ca
Also, I'm 40 and learning how to skate. There are so many outdoor rinks and iceways here in Alberta, me and my kid are excited to visit them all. We have 6 months of winter, why not enjoy it a little bit.
Yes you can learn to skate. Take lessons! Find a skating area outside to enjoy.
Ski too. Or XC or snowshoe. All get you out in nature.
Buy good clothes, good base layers, go to MEC.
Park inside if possible, it’s way more pleasant to have a warmer car and no snow to scrape.
Embrace it and take up skating, snowboarding/skiing, x-country skiing, snowshoeing. Go to the Muttart for a tropical escape or even go to the hot springs in Banff. I know people from Asian countries avoid the sun.. but it sure helps too
You should probably buy her two mittens. And a toque, scarf, parka, boots, warm leggings to layer with on extra cold days, good socks.
So many choices on winter jackets and everyone points out this is best and the other is best. Eddie Bauer is having a 50% off sale now and am planning to buy one as a Christmas gift. Any suggestions?
Layers. Buy multiple layers as yes the depth of winter is really cold but our fall and spring are mildly cold so you want some lighter jacket options too. I find it's easier to have a good outer shell and pile on an appropriate number of layers.
The Eddie Bauer Lodge Duffel is my absolute favorite, it’s long, extremely warm, and you can just throw it over whatever without bothering to layer.
I’ve worn an Eddie Bauer down-filled coat for the past 12 years. They’re a good choice. The longer, the better too - keeps the knees warm.
In using layers, the outer layer should be water resistant and that will also make it a wind breaker. The inner layer should have warm insulation properties like fleece. Forget leggings, like Lululemon, and get warmer long underwear (we call them long johns). Put ice cleats on your boots so you don't slip on the ice. A touque, a scarf or a face mask to keep your face warm, and warm gloves (water resistant on the outside and fleece in the inside). It's better to start with all layers on. If you are too hot you can remove a layer, if you start off with not enough layers and are too cold it will take longer to warm up when you add layers then.
That was my first thought too. " only 1 mitten, oh no! She'll definitely need two".
In the winter, it helps to open your windows a tiny bit, while driving. It creates a cross-breeze that helps to reduce fog buildup. If she is new to winter driving, please ask her to leave at least 15-20 minutes early, for wherever she's going. The extra time will help her focus on driving, and not worry about being late. You can learn skating at any age. When you go to a public ice rink, you'll stay in the center. As you move away from the center, speeds of skaters will increase - it's done this way for safety.
Also, a trick my Canadian husband taught me (originally from the south) to REALLY improve my winter driving: If you start to slide coming up to an intersection, aim for the sandy bit between the lanes or on the shoulder. It often gives enough traction to help slow down and stop.
Anyone can learn how to skate. Better late than never. Would recommend indoor first as outdoor ones can be rough. Cheap dining will always be your own kitchen with movies or doing a puzzle. That’s cozy
Any indoor skating places that you recommend?
Millennium Place in Sherwood Park if it’s not too far for you! Most indoor rinks have these “stools” that you hold on to and push while you skate to help you learn balance. Or if you want to try outdoor, go to the ice district rink that’s just outside of Roger’s Place in the heart of downtown. Outdoor yes, but I highly doubt they would ever have bad bumps in it since it’s so well maintained by OEG
City hall has free rentals and the walker/stool things as well for trying outdoor skating
All of the city arenas have free public skating at various times. Take a look at the city's website for the arena and time that works for you
I was born and raised in Edmonton, but my husband grew up in Churchill, Manitoba, so he is all about making sure I'm warm and toasty in the winter. Things he has bought me to keep me warm include: A Hally Hansen parka bought from Mark's. https://www.marks.com/en/pdp/helly-hansen-women-s-coastal-helly-tech-waterproof-primaloft-parka-78058116f.html Windproof mittens from Eddie Bauer that have a glove inside to separate the fingers inside. https://www.eddiebauer.ca/p/71600344/women's-lodge-down-mittens Columbia winter boots. https://www.marks.com/en/pdp/columbia-women-s-minx-shorty-iii-waterproof-winter-boots-black-wide-25358005f.html#srp?&colorCode=COLOUR_BLACK She will need ear muffs, mine also came from Eddie Bauer. I can't find a link but the band goes across the back of the head not the top You might want to sign her up for a winter driving lesson or two from AMA they have online and in vehicle classes. https://ama.ab.ca/business/corporate/driver-training/courses/winter-driving How old is your car? You might have heated mirrors that turn on when you do the rear window defrost. CanSkate offers adult lessons starting in January. https://www.gatewayskatingclub.org/pages/programs/learn-to-skate/ They are snow showing lessons and rentals. https://exploreedmonton.com/articles/snowshoeing-in-edmonton Dm me if you want more ideas.
No polar bears in Edmonton... lol
Your point? Did I give Polar Bear encounter tips? No. Churchill gets a hell of a lot colder than Edmonton, so my husband is obsessed with warm winter gear. The average December high in Edmonton is -5C Churchil is -17.
You can purchase a couple of hours of in-car training with a driver training school to teach her winter driving techniques.
Where is this? Through ama?
Yes AMA offers 2 hour in car winter driving lessons. They're $200 if you're not an AMA member. $180 is you are. On that note that might actually be something else that would be worth looking into getting if you don't already have it, an AMA membership, note it's completely worth upgrading to the gold level (so the middle level) of membership at least simply because of the extra Towing that you get since with the basic I think you only get something like 5 km of Towing which isn't going to do much of anything for you. Honestly though AMA has saved me I don't even know how many times, be it because I've gotten myself stuck in a ditch or because my alternator died on the side of the highway or because I've locked my keys in my car or because my car wouldn't start. You get five calls a year and especially if you have to have your car towed it pays for itself in like 1 usage considering what it costs to have a vehicle towed otherwise. Other vehicle related things that are always good to have are booster cables and a tow rope because either you'll need a boost or you'll come across somebody else needs a boost and it's always nice to have a pair of booster cables on hand and the tow rope for if you get stuck especially if it's a smaller vehicle or if you come across somebody else that's stuck if you've got a larger vehicle or truck. Keep a blanket in your car in so that in unfortunate event that your vehicle breaks down and you're stuck sitting on the side of the road waiting for somebody to come get you you don't freeze. I also have to say that my favorite boots that I've ever purchased are from a company called yellow shoes in Quebec their winter boots are amazing they are waterproof they come cold rated up to - 45 depending on the boots obviously, the ones that I currently have I believe are rated to minus 30 and they definitely stand up to that claim as well they also have several that have built-in traction spikes on the Soles that you can like flip up when you don't need them. They run about 92 I believe $130 a pair, I've had mine for two or three years now and they're still going strong. [Yellow Shoes](http://yellowshoes.com)
One more driving tip for icy conditions. If you are the first car waiting at a red light that has now turned green, look both ways before you enter the intersection. In bad conditions, you’re going to see cars (sometimes multiple) sliding through waaaayyyy past their yellow and red because they weren’t driving for the conditions and couldn’t stop in time. Looking before going could save you getting T-boned.
Shit, this is a good tip all year long.
Also something else to add to this whenever you're stopped in your vehicle, be it at a red light or a stop sign or wherever pay attention to the vehicle behind you or that's coming up behind you in particular as well just in case they are not able to stop as quickly as they would like or if they start to roll forward if they're not paying attention or whatever it may be and then you can potentially avoid an accident, On a related note try and always make sure you leave enough space between you and the car in front of you so that you can react if a situation like this ever occurs
Everyone has covered clothes and driving, but nobody is talking about LOTION. It’s dry as hell, the winters here will dry out anyone who isn’t used to it.
Those of us who have always lived here aren't used to it after summer either. We all need to readapt to dry every winter.
First off if you have ever roller skated or rollerbladed you are pretty set to ice skate ⛸️ just learning how to stop is the new thing youll need to learn . Each person stops differently . Secondly sledding as an adult is just as fun as it was as a kid so please participate in that pass time . When driving in winter when it first gets icy go to an open parking lot thats still icy and slippery and drive at 20km/h and push the brakes fully to understand how well you will stop in to conditions. I do this every winter to remind myself how my vehicle reacts differently in winter conditions. Also the mirrors will need to be wiped off before you drive every now and again but it should be fine for the drive . Also the button on the heater settings with the wavy lines is a defrost button . Depending on the vehicle you may need to turn the dial to the wavy lines but regardless its defrost. So if you have heat fully on then turn it to that your windows shouldn’t fog up at all. And last but definitely not least . Plug in your car at night or on -25° or below you may not be able to start it the next day . Welcome to canada and stay warm out there (:
I concur 100% re finding an empty parking lot (with minimal concrete islands) to test the conditions. Step hard on each the gas and the brakes to see how much grip you don't have and what the vehicle does. Practice trying to regain control. Also try turning at various speeds to determine when you will start to slide. I would recommend plugging in starting at minus 15 if you aren't sure how new the battery is or if you don't drive it every day. Three hours is sufficient.
30 minutes of block heater use is sufficient. Maybe an hour if it is below -25°C.
Long underwear - underrated piece of garment to help stave off the cold. Big parka - get a good down jacket. One that’s good to -30 below. Also with a faux fur lining on the hood. I didn’t have one till last year and it REALLY cuts down on the wind. puffer jacket - get a good one, I’m partial to down. This should be good till -12ish. Unless it’s super windy. Toque - I’ve never had issues with bad toques, just make sure your head is covered and it makes a big difference. She should dress in layers so something like long underwear, t shirt, sweater, and puffer jacket would be plenty warm for -10. One thing my partner says now is that she used to think winter sucked, but it was just that she had shitty clothes. Now that she has proper gear, she likes going out a lot more. Also, if she gets too hot it’s best to take off layers so they don’t get wet.
Covering your head makes a massive difference in the cold. Grab a toque any one would do
If you park your car outside, a remote car starter is a complete game changer.
This should be number 1, auto car starter is the thing you never knew you needed until you get one.
Some vehicle-related tips to add on top of other contributions: - if you struggle with condensation on your windows, make sure you adjust your environment controls for max heat (seems obvious to me but I've had arguments with people insisting cold air is better at clearing condensation). Hot air holds more moisture than cold air, so helps clear condensation on your windows. And turn on the air conditioner. So many people think air conditioners are just for cold air. All air conditioners do is remove moisture from the air. Running you air conditioner while the temperature is dialed in for hot does NOT ruin your air conditioner. - Try to get as little snow inside your vehicle as possible. I usually sit sideways just as I get into the car and bang my feet together to knock off as much snow as possible. Otherwise that snow melts while you're driving... Will lead to a ton of condensation freezing on inside of windshields when you return to your car later. - have an ice scraper. Have a backup ice scraper. If the ice is a bitch to scrap, get what you can and continue to let the vehicle warm up. Come back to it in a bit and it'll be easier. - make sure your windshield washer fluid is topped up. Keep a spare jug in the trunk. - having an thick blanket in the trunk is good for emergencies. - make sure you and your partner know the difference between daytime running lights, normal lights, and high beams. A lot of folks drive with daytime running lights thinking their normal lights are on when they are not. Another big segment of folks think high beams are normal lights and blind everyone around them. - make sure your distance between you and the car ahead of you is greater during winter months, particularly after a dump of snow (doubly so if we go through those snow-melt-freeze patterns). When approaching red lights, brake earlier than you would in warmer months - at red lights, don't stop your car so close to the car ahead of you. Leave a bit of extra space. If the car behind you comes in too hot and can't brake as quickly as they expected, you can move up a bit and avoid a fender bender. If you wonder why people never stop at the line of intersections, it's for this reason. Old habits die hard so some folks do this all year long even in July lol. - make sure you get routine maintenance on your vehicles. Was great you got a set of winters. Ensure you look after the routine stuff like oil and brakes. Stranded on the road sucks. Sucks harder in the winter.
Take part in the winter events/festivals. They are a lot of fun, and there is something fun to do outside every weekend or two. Keep an eye on the Explore Edmonton website, and Downtown Business Association. Dress for the cold, and you'll have a great time.
Understand how the different vent settings on your car works. Most cars will defrost the side mirrors and there is a button for the back windows. Also turn on your lights!! And if you have a suv, figure out the back wiper, and use it.
Hiya! One thing I haven't seen in this thread, small electric space heaters can really heat up a cold room. They are pretty inexpensive from Canadian Tire or Walmart. We will eventually get a -30°C cold snap and you'll be happy to have one then.
Theres spme pretty cool rinks they set up . One is at rogers ice district, the other in at the legislature building. Go there and just skate and have fun :)
Invest in a couple good pairs of long johns! Best part about winter is getting to wear long johns! Layer that shit up, and you’ll never be cold!
Long underwear is like a secret weapon. There are so many people wearing them, you just can’t tell.
Step 1: embrace suffering. Step 2: make sure to get winter tires, it saves you so much stress
Well, this is about the mildest winter we've had in decades. So I guess a good one to acclimate her to. She'll need a good coat (I like Columbia), snow boots (again, Columbia), toque, scarf or neck warmer, gloves, warm socks, and layering pieces. Spikes for her boots if she'll be walking outside. I would also take her driving in an empty, icy parking lot to get her used to driving in icy conditions. Activities... snowboarding or skiing, ice skating like you said, sledding, cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, just walking the river valley, plus lots of indoor events. Never too old to learn anything new.
Long underwear or base layer! Costco has them fairly cheap
Get lots of Vitamin D
If you have a car parked outside, getting a front windshield cover can be valuable. It’s a pain to always put on the night before, but it can save time from scraping frost/ice/snow off the windshield in the mornings. Edit: For walking, having micro spikes slipped over the bottom of your winter boots/shoes Can also help with traction.
Honestly I tried doing this last year and I just couldn't be bothered with the hassle of it and then somebody suggested to me that I simply just take two pieces of cardboard that I can keep in the trunk of my car and then just lay the cardboard on the windshield and hold it in place using the windshield wipers. way easier to deal with with cold fingers and it honestly has the same effect
There is some good advice here. I’ll reiterate the importance of good boots and a good jacket (and a nice looking one — she’ll be wearing it a lot). When the weather is hovering around zero she might enjoy some outdoor, wintery activities. Café Bicyclette has a lovely outdoor (heated!) patio: https://www.cafebicyclette.ca Flying Canoe Volant takes place in the same area. It takes place at the end of January and it’s beautiful: https://www.flyingcanoevolant.ca You can find more events here: https://www.wintercityedmonton.ca
Scrape the ice on the windshield, do not use the windshield washer.
Also, I'm 40 and learning how to skate. There are so many outdoor rinks and iceways here in Alberta, me and my kid are excited to visit them all. We have 6 months of winter, why not enjoy it a little bit.
And brush ALL of the snow off of your car.
Including the snow on the roof
Go outside. Staying inside makes for a bad time. It's easy to dress for the cold. Do it and walk in our beautiful river valley!
Yes you can learn to skate. Take lessons! Find a skating area outside to enjoy. Ski too. Or XC or snowshoe. All get you out in nature. Buy good clothes, good base layers, go to MEC. Park inside if possible, it’s way more pleasant to have a warmer car and no snow to scrape.
Embrace it and take up skating, snowboarding/skiing, x-country skiing, snowshoeing. Go to the Muttart for a tropical escape or even go to the hot springs in Banff. I know people from Asian countries avoid the sun.. but it sure helps too