Why winters in Toronto are special to me

My name is Micaela, I’m a 4th year economics and finance student from Lima, Peru. 

When I first landed in Toronto, I have to admit, I was pretty nervous about my first winter. Coming from Lima, where the weather is warm year-round, the idea of snow and freezing temperatures seemed overwhelming. I remember my mom being so worried about how I’d handle it. She’d text me nonstop, reminding me to wear a thick jacket, thermal clothes, and gloves. At the time, I thought she was overreacting, but as soon as that cold wind hit me, I was very grateful for her advice.

The first few weeks in the city were definitely a lot. I wasn’t used to layering up or always having gloves and a scarf with me. It really helped that I had other international friends going through the same thing. We’d share what we were feeling, and it made it easier to get through it together. My friend and I even started picking out cute sweaters and cool coats from thrift stores like Black Market and Public Butter Vintage, and suddenly bundling up felt less like a hassle and more like a chance to show off some style.

One of my favorite parts of Canadian winters is skiing. My roommates and I have a tradition of planning a ski weekend at Blue Mountain, one of Ontario's largest ski resorts, every winter. We pack up, head to the mountains, and spend the weekend skiing during the day and enjoying good food at night.

I had never skied before moving to Canada, so learning was a bit of a challenge at first. I spent a lot of time falling, but it became one of my favorite winter activities. We’ve also taken trips to Mont Tremblant in Quebec, which offers incredible views. My absolute favorite part of these trips is the Off-Piste Après Garden hosted by Blue Mountain. For those who aren’t familiar with it, après-ski is like a little outdoor party where everyone gathers after a day on the slopes to warm up with cheese fondue, raclette, and hot drinks. 

I’ve also attended a few winter events on campus, like the TMU Frost Holiday Festival, a free festival where students met and explored products offered by various vendors. I grabbed a hot chocolate from Balzac’s and a snowman-shaped cookie from one of the stalls. The event also gave us free skate rentals for Lake Devo, a small spot on campus that turns into an outdoor rink every winter. It was such a nice break from studying and a great way to connect with other students.

Over time, I’ve become much more accustomed to Canadian winters. It’s funny to think back to my first winter when I was so worried. Now, I actually look forward to some parts of the season. Back home in Lima, winter means cloudy skies and cooler temperatures, but nothing close to what we have here. I used to think 15°C was freezing, but now it feels like summer weather!