Canada is a pretty great country in which to live. It is diverse in its people, its culture and its weather. The true north strong and free is, in a nutshell, a nation of ‘nice’ people, of wide open spaces, abundant resources and the strangest mess of weather you can find anywhere.
In this particular corner of the nation, we are always eager for the warm weather that accompanies spring. This year, however, it seems to be somewhat slow in reaching its full potential. At least, when you’re as happy as I am to see the last of winter, it has certainly felt that way. Temperatures in the first few weeks of the new season haven’t been quite as frigid as those in the deep freeze of winter; however, a frosty chill was carried along on winds that careened from the cold north and damp east more often than not.
The early Easter of 2018 arrived with few lawns having been raked and cleared for the annual egg hunt. Taking part in it meant that winter coats were required for the task, while children sported knitted hats, mittens and by the end of it, rosy cheeks as they delightedly filled baskets with pretty coloured treats.
Indeed, the urgency for the best of this season has been ever present. At least for me. It can’t get warm enough fast enough. I can’t wait to see gardens sprouting, grass greening and trees budding.
It will come, of course. Patience in this place is a valued trait. In Canada, we know that the weather changes in a heartbeat. Especially in spring and fall, when Mother Nature’s capriciousness can deliver balmy temperatures one day, damp and cold the next. The promise of sunshine and warmth can disappear on a whim until we almost lose faith.
But rest assured we’re a hardy lot, unwavering in our certainty that the weather will get better. Even when we know that some years it really doesn’t fulfil expectations. Last summer for example, was rather a disappointment since we never really hit the sweltering levels of heat.
When it comes to weather, variety is certainly a word that comes easily to mind anywhere I suspect. But, I tend to think no more so than in this country. We live in the deep freeze of winter with little respite for virtually six months of the year most times, four when we get lucky with a mild one. Our world can turn milk bottle white with blizzard after blizzard, or we can be blessed with my favourite — an open winter.
Spring can be wet and late like this year appears to be, or arrive full of life and right on cue. Canadian summers bring the best and the worst with sunshine and intense heat, gentle showers and frightening storms. Autumn can be as sparkling as the sun on a dewdrop, or as bleakly depressing as missing the lottery by one number.
This all reminds me of a quote I once heard, something about ‘if you’re not liking the weather, just wait a minute or two and it will change’. That is most definitely the case in Canada.
If it’s images of weather that you’re interested in, however, no matter what you might be looking for, you can find it here in these two terrific clipart collections:
