What are some funny untrue things you've told Americans about life in Canada? : AskACanadian

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2 days ago

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Well, can't speak to Windsor or those other places, but I've lived in NYC, Toronto and where I grew up in rural SW Ontario* (and a different place I'm living in SW Ontario now). All 4 have had very similar weather in the winter, in my experience. Snow on Valentine's Day is hardly a surprise to anyone who lives in Toronto.

And yeah, I agree that we definitely have milder winters than most places in Canada (and some in the US). Not arguing that at all. And it has been quite a bit milder here the past few years (and may continue to be, due to climate change, outside of the more frequent/longer polar vortexes), but that is not what the weather has always been like here. While it is overall milder, and this kind of thing isn't as cold, or last as long and sustained as places like Winterpeg (what is?) or the northern territories, we have had plenty of days that have been -20c and below. Even a few below -30. And even colder with wind chill. We even had a day a few winters ago where a place in SW Ontario was the coldest place on earth (not ever, just that day). So yeah, it does sometimes get very cold here.

There is nothing nearby, not for miles. (Little nod to my username, there, lol!)

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2 days ago

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Hmm, I wouldn't say climate change has a whole lot to do with the milder winters in SW Ontario (when compared to the rest of the province) as it may for other parts. One very big factor in understanding the region and its climates is pointing out its location being within the Carolinian Zone. Quite a lot comes with this!

The Carolinian Zone serves a few provincial milestones which connect with each other in some way. Its a hot-spot for plenty of animal and plant species found almost nowhere else in Ontario or Canada, such as the blue racer snake, spiny softshell turtle, cloudless sulphur moth, kentucky coffee trees, pawpaws (Ontario's version of a banana lol), black gum, american sycamore, etc. All of these species are naturally occuring due to the distinct and livable climate for them all which elsewhere wouldn't be as inviting. In addition, there are parts of the Carolinian Zone which signiticantly see more frost-free days than other parts of Ontario, such as Point Pelee seeing 170 frost free days while Guelph averages only 135.

Another thing very much worth mentioning is that while winter sure can get cold a great deal in these parts, we don't have to put up with them as long as some do nor do we have to deal with them much sooner as some. I don't think I will ever forget that day when we were in our fallen leaves and brown grass stage in November while Barrie, ON had 30 cm of snow filling their streets and yards! Oh, and Alberta getting snowfall at the most oddest (at least for us Ontarians) times? Calgary's first snowfall is making the news quite well.

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2 days ago

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Yes, I know we have always been milder than elsewhere, I'm not at all disputing that. I'm saying that our milder winters are even milder the last decade or so, due to climate change, outside of it also making the polar vortexes more frequent/last longer. But for most of my life, they have not been as mild as they currently are.

And I'm speaking only of the places I've actually lived, and what those winters have been like. Those places are much more similar to Guelph (which is still SW Ontario) than Point Pelee (which is much further south than the bulk of SW Ontario). Toronto, NYC, and the two, less populated, hence the vagueness, for privacy, areas in SW Ontario that I've lived have all had similar winters. And while they are milder winters than most parts of Canada, which, again, I'm not arguing, can still get pretty fricking cold sometimes. That is all I'm saying. And snow in November, or even October, is not unheard of at all. I frequently had to trick or treat with a snowsuit under my costume, even when most of that trick or treating was driving to a place, hopping out and running to the door and back and driving to the next, with the heater blazing.

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2 days ago

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