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Winter in Canada means knee-high boots, snow pants, and so many layers you can barely see your face. It means wearing gloves under your mittens and trying to stay cozy however you can. It also means being damn proud of just how miserable your city really is\u2014and how tough its people are.<\/p>\n
Think your town has the worst winters in Canada? Now you can know for sure. These are the towns with Canada\u2019s lowest temperatures, where your eyelashes will freeze so fast you won\u2019t know what hit you. Record snowfall? They\u2019ve got that, too. Here\u2019s how we came up with the darkest, snowiest, windiest, coldest cities in Canada.<\/p>\n
❄<\/big><\/big><\/big> \u2013 The Let It Snow icon indicates the total average snowfall. The more snowflakes, the more time you\u2019ll spend shovelling each winter.<\/p>\n
🌡<\/big><\/big><\/big> \u2013 This is the Frostbite Factor: the more icons a town has, the more layers are required on an average winter day.<\/p>\n
🔥<\/big><\/big><\/big> \u2013 The Great Indoors icon rates the number of ways to stay warm, from cozy cafes to toque shops. More icons means a slightly less<\/em> miserable winter.<\/p>\n Winter tourism in Canada is for the brave\u2014and these cities are for the bravest of the brave. If you think you can handle it, we dare you to try.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let It Snow<\/em>: ❄ ❄ ❄<\/p>\n Frostbite Factor<\/em>: 🌡<\/p>\n The Great Indoors<\/em>: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥<\/p>\n Terrace<\/a> may not get as chilly as other cities on our list, but it\u2019s definitely got snowfall covered\u2014or rather, is covered in snowfall. When it snows here, it really<\/em> snows. Terrace got buried in 1999, when it saw 113 cm in 24 hours, and again in 2015, when 150 cm fell within two days. (And don\u2019t even get us started on the 1970s.) The locals put all that snow to good use, with nearby Shames Mountain Ski Area<\/strong> offering 28 runs up to 4 km long, plus backcountry skiing. If you\u2019re more of a coffee-and-scarf kind of person, head to Sidewalkers Boutique<\/strong> for cozy accessories, then Xanders Coffee<\/strong> for friendly faces and hot beverages of all sorts. Terrace knows how to make a miserable winter just a little more tolerable.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let It Snow<\/em>: ❄ ❄ ❄<\/p>\n Frostbite Factor<\/em>: 🌡<\/p>\n The Great Indoors<\/em>: 🔥 🔥 🔥<\/p>\n If you\u2019re going to survive a winter in Newfoundland and Labrador, you\u2019re going to need a good pair of boots and a warm jacket\u2014and they better be waterproof. In Placentia<\/a>, snowfall totals just 173 cm, but when you add in the 575 mm of winter rainfall and an average temp of -4\u00b0 C, you\u2019ll see why this town made the list. Stay dry at the Placentia Bay Cultural Arts Centre<\/strong>, which puts on plays and exhibits throughout the year, or the historic O\u2019Reilly House Museum<\/strong>. After a wet day out, a cup of house-made soup at Three Sisters Pub<\/strong> is the perfect ending. Don\u2019t forget your umbrella!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let It Snow<\/em>: ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄<\/p>\n Frostbite Factor<\/em>: 🌡<\/p>\n The Great Indoors<\/em>: 🔥 🔥 🔥<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve never worn plastic bags over your feet, Gander<\/a> will surely introduce you to this beloved Canadian tradition. It sees an astonishing 443 cm of snow per year, making it one of the snowiest cities in Canada, according to CBC\/Radio-Canada. In April 2017, storms buried houses and cars for days<\/em>. The fearless locals embrace all that fluffy stuff with cross-country skiing, snowshoeing\u2026and keeping a shovel inside <\/em>the house, to dig their way out. Once out, you\u2019ll find them heading to Scudrunner Brewing<\/strong> for a pint or to the local caf\u00e9 for hot latte. Join them at The Gander Bread Box <\/strong>for a cup of fresh coffee and handcrafted jam jam cookies that will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let It Snow<\/em>: ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄<\/p>\n Frostbite Factor<\/em>: 🌡<\/p>\n The Great Indoors<\/em>: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥<\/p>\n If Canadian cities were competitive athletes, Moncton<\/a> would always go for gold. This New Brunswick city is always setting new personal bests: In 2015, it broke its own snowfall record, clocking in at 500 cm, plus endured its coldest temps in nearly 70 years. Those are records that even Wayne Gretzky would be proud of, and he knows a thing or two about ice. Monctonians aren\u2019t about stay in their houses after all that shovelling, though\u2014there are loads of things to do in Moncton in winter. Let Intuition Boutique<\/strong> show you how to bundle up in the latest sweaters and scarves, then head out to Pump House Brewery<\/strong> for a hot meal, a cold beer, and plenty of tales of nor\u2019easters and ice storms.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let It Snow<\/em>: ❄<\/p>\n Frostbite Factor<\/em>: 🌡 🌡<\/p>\n The Great Indoors<\/em>: 🔥 🔥<\/p>\n Claresholm<\/a> is not only a victim of Chinook winds, which can easily hit hurricane-force strength. It also saw record low temperatures last year, hitting -41.8\u00b0 C on New Year\u2019s Eve and smashing its old record by more than 6 degrees. With this combo of wind and freezing temps, it\u2019s no wonder residents like to stay indoors in the winter! Activities like ice skating at the Arena<\/strong> and curling at Claresholm Curling Rink<\/strong> don\u2019t just keep your limbs from freezing solid, they give you a chance to commiserate with like-minded community members. For the less athletic, events like the Christmas Market on December 8 at Claresholm Community Centre<\/strong> will keep your mind occupied when the weather outside is frightful.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let It Snow<\/em>: ❄ ❄ ❄<\/p>\n Frostbite Factor<\/em>: 🌡 🌡<\/p>\n The Great Indoors<\/em>: 🔥 🔥<\/p>\n On February 11, 1999, the weather station at Tahtsa Lake recorded Canada\u2019s most snowfall ever in a single day: 145 cm! (That\u2019s four-fifths the height of Wayne Gretzky, FYI.) It\u2019s easy to see why that area is relatively uninhabited, but head northeast to Burns Lake<\/a>, and you\u2019ll find similar weather. Being snowed in is no problem for the residents of this isolated spot in BC\u2019s North-Central Interior\u2014they\u2019ll simply break out their snowmobiles. If you\u2019re new to town, make the warm and cozy Aksenz Boutique<\/strong> your first stop to bundle up proper. Then join the locals at Grapevine Pub<\/strong> for grub and gossip, or enjoy a Northern Fog (Earl grey, steamed milk, and vanilla) at Alternative Grounds<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let It Snow<\/em>: ❄ ❄<\/p>\n Frostbite Factor<\/em>: 🌡 🌡 🌡<\/p>\n The Great Indoors<\/em>: 🔥 🔥 🔥<\/p>\n New Year\u2019s Eve last year brought freezing temperatures to much of Canada. In Ontario, Toronto and Ottawa shortened or cancelled their celebrations\u2014but not Thunder Bay<\/a>. Temps reached -40\u00b0 C with wind chill, but all these residents needed was a reminder to dress in wind-resistant layers. Maybe that\u2019s because this city has so much fun in the cold: Winter Fundays<\/strong> take place on Sundays from December 30 to March 17, 2019 and include activities like ice skating, snow sculpting, and kicksledding. Fat biking is all the rage here, too, so rent one from Rollin\u2019 Thunder<\/strong> and hit the trails at Centennial Park<\/strong>. At the end of an active day, warm cold hands around a cup of Oso Negro artisanal coffee at Bean Fiend Caf\u00e9<\/strong>, and you\u2019ll totally get why people live here.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let It Snow<\/em>: ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄<\/p>\n Frostbite Factor<\/em>: 🌡 🌡 🌡<\/p>\n The Great Indoors<\/em>: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥<\/p>\n This riverside Quebec town hits all the right notes for a miserable winter: the only major city (those with 100,000 people or more) that\u2019s colder than Saguenay<\/a> on average is Winnipeg\u2014and everyone knows how insufferable their <\/em>winters are. Between December and February, Saguenay sees only 15 days of winter thaw, that is, days when it\u2019s warm enough to melt snow. That\u2019s an ice-cold climate more suited to Jack Frost than human beings, but these humans aren\u2019t letting it stop them, and neither should you. Rent ice skates or snowshoes and explore Parc de la Rivi\u00e8re-du-Moulin<\/strong> for some great winter selfies\u2014or bundle up in a new sweater from Michel Signature<\/strong> boutique and take a selfie with your Viennese coffee at Caf\u00e9 Croissant<\/strong> instead. That\u2019s coffee infused with whipping cream, and it\u2019s a decadent treat you totally deserve for surviving this winter.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let It Snow<\/em>: ❄ ❄<\/p>\n Frostbite Factor<\/em>: 🌡 🌡 🌡<\/p>\n The Great Indoors<\/em>: 🔥<\/p>\n Fort Vermilion<\/a> takes the silver medal for lowest temperature recorded in Canada, at -60.6\u00b0 C on January 11, 1911, coming in second only to Snag, Yukon. It\u2019s got another claim to fame, too: it\u2019s the oldest European settlement in Alberta. Those pioneers were here way before the days of electric blankets and personal hand warmers, so you know the locals are a hardy bunch. You can get a taste of the frozen lives the settlers lived with a visit to the Fort Vermilion Heritage Centre<\/strong>, whose grounds include several historical log cabins. Put yourself in their shoes if you dare\u2014you just better hope they are warm shoes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let It Snow<\/em>: ❄<\/p>\n Frostbite Factor<\/em>: 🌡 🌡 🌡<\/p>\n The Great Indoors<\/em>: 🔥 🔥<\/p>\n Saskatchewan is definitely in the running for coldest province in Canada, and Kenaston<\/a> is a case in point. This prairie town used to call itself the \u201cBlizzard Capital of Canada\u201d and even built a snowman statue to prove it. Although the weather facts don\u2019t quite match that claim, it is <\/em>true that Kenaston has some pretty miserable winters. It\u2019s cold, windy, and rural, but the hearty warriors of this village on the plains wouldn\u2019t have it any other way. If you don\u2019t get blown away while taking a selfie with the giant snowman, make your way to Kenaston Caf\u00e9<\/strong> for a slice of pie and a toasty hot chocolate. It\u2019s a classic combination for a cold Canadian day.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let It Snow<\/em>: ❄ ❄<\/p>\n Frostbite Factor<\/em>: 🌡 🌡 🌡<\/p>\n The Great Indoors<\/em>: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥<\/p>\n Winter in Winnipeg<\/a> has a bit of a reputation, and it\u2019s all deserved: It\u2019s the coldest city in Canada with a population over 100,000. In fact, it takes that title in two different ways: coldest average winter temperature, and<\/em> the highest number of days per year that are below freezing (113, to be exact). You won\u2019t find complaining here, though\u2014just light a bonfire, put some beers in the snow, and you\u2019ve got a wintery Winnipeg party. Want some indoor options? A night of board games and drinks at Across the Board Cafe<\/strong> will keep you toasty.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let It Snow<\/em>: ❄ ❄<\/p>\n Frostbite Factor<\/em>: 🌡 🌡 🌡<\/p>\n The Great Indoors<\/em>: 🔥 🔥 🔥<\/p>\n Remember the Great Ontario Ice Storm of 2013? Kenora<\/a> was right in the middle of it, breaking its own records for freezing temperatures. Yes, it\u2019s cold here, and sure, sometimes your mailbox might freeze shut, but there are upsides: for example, you\u2019ll get really good at driving while looking through a very tiny window that you\u2019ve scraped through the ice on your car. Also, you\u2019ll have adorable boutiques where you can find all the winter accessories you need, like slippers and robes at The Seasons Shop<\/strong> and cushy blankets at Abundance<\/strong>. After a coconut mocha at HoJoe Coffee & Eatery<\/strong>, you\u2019ll be feeling the winter spirit just like a local\u2014until you have to finish scraping your windshield, that is.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let It Snow<\/em>: ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄<\/p>\n Frostbite Factor<\/em>: 🌡 🌡 🌡<\/p>\n The Great Indoors<\/em>: 🔥 🔥 🔥<\/p>\n If your motto is \u201cLet it snow, let it snow, let it snow!,\u201d Val-D\u2019Or<\/a> is your kind of place. Of the larger Canadian cities, it takes the award for most total days with snowfall: 103. Oh, and it\u2019s pretty chilly, too. But residents don\u2019t let the average January temp of -17\u00b0 C keep them indoors\u2014skiing, snowshoeing, hockey, ice fishing, and more are on the outdoor menu in winter. On the indoor menu: fondue and escargot at L\u2019Avantage<\/strong> restaurant, and poutine and beer at Microbrasserie Le Prospecteur<\/strong>. Once you\u2019ve got a buzz going, browse the books at La Galerie du Livre<\/strong>. You\u2019re gonna need a good read for all those days you\u2019re snowed in.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let It Snow<\/em>: ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄<\/p>\n Frostbite Factor<\/em>: 🌡 🌡 🌡 🌡<\/p>\n The Great Indoors<\/em>: 🔥 🔥<\/p>\n Moosonee<\/a> has so much winter street cred, you\u2019d almost think it was in one of the territories. For starters, its nickname is \u201cGateway to the Arctic,\u201d which is appropriate for a place that gets an average of 7 cm snowfall\u2026in May! Oh, and did we mention you\u2019ll have to arrive by plane or train? In true rural north fashion, the only roads in winter are ice roads. Luckily, you can hop on the Polar Bear Express<\/strong> rail line in Cochrane, which will take you through some stunning winter landscapes on its way to the final stop in Moosonee. In town, check out the Cree Cultural Interpretive Centre<\/strong>, then cozy up in a booth at Treeline Diner<\/strong> for homemade stew that will warm your soul.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let It Snow<\/em>: ❄ ❄<\/p>\n Frostbite Factor<\/em>: 🌡 🌡 🌡 🌡<\/p>\n The Great Indoors<\/em>: 🔥 🔥<\/p>\n Winnipeg might be the coldest major city in Canada, but to the north, Thompson<\/a> takes the cake for Manitoba\u2019s most miserable winter. Get used to shovelling, because Thompson sees some of the province\u2019s worst early storms, with an average 24 cm of snow in October! Winter temps reach a frigid -24\u00b0 C, but that just makes it the perfect place for pond hockey and ice fishing, right? If you think you\u2019re tough enough for Thompson, get outfitted at Thompson Trading Post<\/strong>, then test your mettle at Mystery Mountain Winter Park<\/strong>. Pro tip: The more layers, the better.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n20. Terrace, BC<\/h3>\n
![\"Skiing](\"http:\/\/expedia.blog.ca.local\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/terrace-bc-snowiest-places-in-canada.jpg\")
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\n19. Placentia, NL<\/h3>\n
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\n18. Gander, NL<\/h3>\n
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\n17. Moncton, NB<\/a><\/h3>\n
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\n16. Claresholm, AB<\/h3>\n
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\n15. Burns Lake, BC<\/h3>\n
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\n14. Thunder Bay, ON<\/a><\/h3>\n
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\n13. Saguenay, QC<\/a><\/h3>\n
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\n12. Fort Vermilion, AB<\/h3>\n
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\n11. Kenaston, SK<\/h3>\n
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\n10. Winnipeg, MB<\/a><\/h3>\n
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\n9. Kenora, ON<\/h3>\n
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\n8. Val-D’Or, QC<\/h3>\n
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\n7. Moosonee, ON<\/h3>\n
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\n6. Thompson, MB<\/h3>\n
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\n5. Yellowknife, NT<\/a><\/h3>\n
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