This winter, we got to enjoy the company
of Sayaka's family while spending the Christmas holiday in their hometown of Hiroshima, Japan. It was a
great trip that refreshed my mind and inspired me to be a better me for my family, clients, and friends. However,
I had to return home ahead of my wife and kids to prepare for the
upcoming year, which we anticipate to be busier than the media hopes. This
winter also saw Mother Nature surprise the South Coast of BC with what the rest
of Canada considers normal. We had an actual Canadian winter, complete with
frozen lakes, blankets of snow, and frigid temperatures. It is easy to feel
overwhelmed and frustrated when we are clearly not prepared for or accustomed
to being surrounded by snow for a long stretch. While such weather systems
bring with it the inconvenience for commuters, the strenuous chore of shoveling
the driveways, and the fight of the century...for salt, it was a wonderful
sight to see all the people playing outside and having fun with it! I sure
wished my family was here to enjoy it all with me. Here is how I will remember
winter of 2016/17.
Pond hockey
One of the treats of the recent cold
snap was the frozen ponds around town. Growing up, I spent a lot of time at
Trout lake, having lived only 1 block away as a child. I had only ever seen it
frozen once but finally, this year I could proudly say that I got to skate on
it. A Canadian tradition that we Vancouverites have never complained about and
would happily trade in for our mild West Coast weather we usually enjoy, it was
rather pleasant to see how a natural frozen sheet of ice can bring out a small-town
atmosphere to the community. When I went, it was the second day after officials
deemed it safe for public enjoyment, and literally thousands of people were
seen skating on it. Pickup games formed with the power of one guy with a shovel
and random strangers joined in and taking turns to etch out a rink. It was
great teamwork and lots of fun! No one kept score and there was no
discrimination against age, race, gender or religion. Maybe world peace is
possible after all. We just need one guy with a shovel.
Beautiful snow covered trails
An unexpected perk that I personally
got to experience was the natural beauty of the snow-covered trails around
Burnaby Lake. I frequently take walks around the 10.2 km Burnaby Lake Loop with
our dog, Boke and it's a beautiful lake to begin with. But covered with snow,
partially frozen lake with a back drop of ice capped mountains, snow covered
trees and pure white trails can truly take your breath away. If you can tough
out the -3-degree temperature, the added difficulty of stretches of icy trail
and deep snow, it is worth a try without the long drive through winding roads
outside of the city.
Ice flowing down the Fraser River
Lastly, one of my favorite spots in
the Lower Mainland is in New Westminster at the Quay. I often take the family
to the River Market to have a tasty lunch with one of the top-notch vendors and
go for a scenic stroll along the picturesque boardwalk. The wooden plank trail
is lined with flowers and takes you along the mighty Fraser River, where tug
boats and loggers are frequently seen at work. I went there in mid January and
to my surprise, ice was flowing down the river! I imagined seeing a stranded
penguin or polar bear on one of these patches of ice like the documentaries of
the arctic but it was just plain slow moving ice. Maybe it was just me but I
found it so peaceful to observe the movement of pieces of ice flowing down a
river wondering how far it traveled and if anyone got to play hockey on it.
Although it was cold throughout the
day and a little bit difficult navigating through some small streets at times,
I would happily trade in these inconveniences to have a chance to enjoy the
next Vancouver edition of a Canadian winter with my family any day of the week.
It was rare for us City Folk to experience the long stretch of winter and
seeing everyone and their dogs enjoying the outdoors together. That is how I
will remember the great winter storm of 2016. Spring is just around the corner
so let's get ready for some family fun in the new year!
