Maple leaf

[RockyR]

Rocky... glad to see you are simulating Canadian winter conditions!

I was actually trying to simulate Canadian SUMMER conditions.

[MacCathmhaoil]

I was actually trying to simulate Canadian SUMMER conditions.

Not far from the truth! When I was growing up I lived in northern Quebec on an Air Force Base and I remember that the last day of school coincided with the first day of summer, there were still large snow banks as we walked home.

[Nathan]

I was actually trying to simulate Canadian SUMMER conditions.

Haha! Freak weather occurances aside, it's a common misconception that Canada is a cold country. It's actually a climate of extremes in most regions.

In Southern Canada where most Canadians live, we get heat alerts and heat advisories and bad sunburns in July and August. It's very humid and it's tough to sleep without air conditioning on a summer night. Each summer we get a heat wave and temperatures regularly surpass 32 C (90F) and occasionally have topped 40C (104F) not counting humidex.

The same city in February can be colder than -30 C (-22F) not counting the "wind chill factor".

What this means is that Canadians need to own a lot of clothing for a variety of weather conditions and we also talk about the weather constantly.

When you can't walk to the bus stop without sweating in late July or the droplets in your nostrils and tears freezing in February, you might be in Canada.

Back to your regularly scheduled conversation about the maple leaf tartan and how nice it is. ;)