I used to detest the first snowfall and the howling winds, signalling the incoming winter. But recently, my views on winter have undergone an evolution as I’ve begun doing activities that I enjoy and employing a different mindset. 

At the beginning of January, I was absolutely repulsed by the winter because of my miserable commuting experience in the extreme cold. The issue of transportation is a nuisance that many students face, especially if they bus or walk — which most University of Saskatchewan students do. 

One thing that I’ve learned is that the prairie weather is unfortunately always subject to change. So dressing warmly in layers helped alleviate the unpleasant commuting experience on weekdays. 

On the weekends, when I am not commuting to the university, I used to hole myself up indoors hoping for an escape from the weather.  It never quite happened — I only felt brain-dead after staring at my screen for 12 hours a day. 

So recently, I bought a pair of cross-country skis and decided that I might as well embrace the weather. Since I live in a cold country, it would be a bummer to have never experienced any winter outdoor activities. 

I went skiing on the Wildwood Golf course and was immediately surrounded by mounds of white snow — a contrast to my default dull gray urban environment setting. I also discovered that cross country skiing can be a fierce cardio workout — burning 460 calories per hour for a 150-pound person. 

Another outdoor activity that has helped me alleviate the winter blues is going skating. 

Even if you are not familiar with the geography of the city, you probably have seen the South Saskatchewan River, an integral Saskatoon landmark. Beside it is the Cameco Meewasin Skating Rink that has an outdoor fire pit and twinkling lights. 

Through doing activities in the cold air that makes me happy, I’ve been able to condition myself to associate winter weather with my recreation routine instead of a miserable commuting experience.

As a result, I flinch less at the sight of an impending snowfall because I finally have an array of activities to look forward to. 

Most importantly, I’ve learned to view winter as a necessary evil — a time of the year that has become ingrained in my identity. I mean, how else could summer in Canada be so exciting without the deep hibernation that Canadians endure for half of the year?

I can’t imagine what my identity would be like if snowy winters no longer existed — something that is going to gradually retreat with the onset of climate change. 

In addition to winter being ingrained in my identity, knowing that the cold weather will disappear makes me appreciate it more. The extreme cold and rapidly melting snow all demonstrate the long-term effects of climate change in Canada. Experiencing the idyllic moments of winter feels fleeting in the face of these changes, so I try to enjoy my best to enjoy them while I can.

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This op-ed was written by a University of Saskatchewan undergraduate student and reflects the views and opinions of the writer. If you would like to write a reply, please email opinions@thesheaf.com. Annie Liu is a first-year undergraduate student studying in the College of Arts and Science. 

Graphic: Jaycen Jakubowski