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Cold and snowy! The two words that first spring to mind when thinking about a Canadian winter.
After securing your working holiday visa in Canada, you will start the process of relocating. Visas for working in Canada can take some time to obtain, but this gives you plenty of time to prepare for your new climate!
In this blog post we present to you tips on how to survive winter, on your overseas working holiday! Brrrr!
Know what to expect
Let’s face it, nobody likes being caught out! The best way you can prepare for a Canadian winter is by knowing what to expect.
Do you know what the average length of the winter in Canada is? The wintertime generally begins in December, and runs through to February. Sometimes, this can extend either end by starting in November and ending in March.
One of the many beautiful things you will get to experience on your working holiday in Canada is a whole heap of snow! Compared to the UK, the snow is nothing like you will have ever seen before. December is the time of year when the most snow fall is expected.
We think that this makes December an exciting time to be in Canada, because nothing screams Christmas more than a frosty morning.
If snow is what you like, be sure to find a city that has the most snowfall. This varies across Canada.
A good winter coat
With so many brands on the market, knowing which coat to buy can be a time-consuming task.
The best time to buy your winter coat for your working holiday to Canada is once you have arrived. This way, you can afford to pack more items into your luggage. Winter coats are bulky and take up plenty of room. Why not wait until you touch down?
Speak with the locals to find out which coats they wear, as they are certainly well seasoned in this department!
Read our helpful guide on packing for your working abroad program.
Pick a warmer area to live in
If you really can’t stand the cold, it’s a good idea to relocate to some of the warmer areas in Canada. The British Columbia province boasts some of the warmest places in Canada. Vancouver is a sensible choice. With the average daily temperature during January at around 6.9 degrees Celsius.
It is also worth noting that Vancouver doesn’t experience very much snow at all.
Do have some fun
In the UK, we don’t tend to get very much snow. If we do, it varies between countries and so does the depth of the snow, too. In Canada, there are snow many (see what we did there?) activities to get involved in, and they can be thoroughly enjoyed with the amount of snow that falls.
”Do you wanna build a snowman?”. A question many of us have asked our siblings and friends when growing up. Having said that, due to the amount of snow we get in the UK (especially in London), the snowman potential wasn’t always so great. Just imagine the type of snowmen that you could build in Canada!
Another fun thing to do is to go for relaxing and therapeutic winter walks. A good way to warm up your hands is by taking a hot cup of cocoa with you. This is a great way to enjoy the winter and keeps you active. It’s often difficult to exercise in the winter, due to the dark mornings and evenings. By taking a hot chocolate with you, this can be a great motivator and a comforting experience to share with a mate. Friendly reminder, don’t forget the cream and marshmallows!
Relive your best childhood winter memories and go crazy!