I have lived in Montreal for almost 3 years now and one of the most asked questions I get from friends and family who live in warm climates is: “How do you survive the Canadian winter?”

The key, as I have learned from people who have lived here for a while, is to embrace and celebrate winter, not just tolerate it. To make it through those cold months between November and March, you really have to find immerse yourself in winter related activities and festivities. Now that we are in the home stretch (1-2 more months!), here are some survival tips I follow during winter.

Check out the local winter festivals

When you live in a city where winter lasts 5-6 months, you find that the people have found ways to celebrate the winter. Montreal has a lot of winter festivals that make you almost look forward to winter (almost).

Igloofest – An Electronic music festival that invites fans to dance under the stars in the Old Port of Montreal. The festival lasts for 4 weekends (Jan-Feb) and features local and international dj’s pumping up the music. Tip: Dress in more layers than you think you’ll need, dance close to the crowd and drink a jagermeister shot every once in a while to stay warm.

Montréal en Lumière and Nuit Blanche – Montréal en Lumière is one of the largest winter festivals in the world which usually takes place between mid February till the beginning of March. There is an overwhelming variety of cultural activities to choose from in various Montreal neighborhoods like free live concerts, shows, art exhibitions and a long ice slide for kids (theoretically).

Ski, or learn how to ski

If you already know how to ski, then you’re way ahead of the game. There are a lot of great slopes just outside the city (many of which offer instructors for beginners). Otherwise, there are plenty of winter activities you can do right in the city.

Go ice skating in the park

A few great parks in Montreal like Parc La Fontaine and Beaver Lake on Mont-Royal turn into beautiful outdoor ice skating rinks in the winter complete with music (sometimes cheesy but still fun). It’s free if you have your own ice skates but if you’re a noob like me, you can rent ice skates for about $10. Beaver lake also offers tubing, and snowshoeing.

Plan a fun night in

My friends and I usually have a fun night in about once a week. Whether it’s a potluck, Golden Girls marathon or a game night, a fun night in is  a great way to spend quality time with friends without trudging through the snow. A few rounds of Pictionary or Cards Against Humanity will really elevate the night. Tip: Stay away from Monopoly if you actually want to keep the friendships you have.

Keep Walking

Although it’s fun to have a nice night in, resist the urge to completely hibernate on your sofa until April. I try to walk outside at least 30 minutes to an hour every day. It does wonders for my energy level and mood.

Carry on

Chances are, short of drinks on a terrace, all the activities you enjoy throughout the year are still going on in the winter. Go to the movies and watch all the films that were nominated for an Oscar and see what all the fuss is about. Or just watch The Lego Movie if you’re not feeling particularly cerebral. Enjoy a drink with friends (Randolph Pub is my new favorite spot to enjoy a drink and play a fun board game). There are also cultural activities that happen year round; museum exhibits, concerts and my new favorite, Paint Nite.

And remember, the SAQ is your friend…

(img source –www.geotourisme.ca)