As the sun rises on 2024, we’re excited to share this vibrant winter scene, courtesy of Canadian landscape artist Stéphanie Gauvin.
“Painting snow always excites me,” says the artist based in Rossland, B.C. She draws inspiration from the creatives behind vintage Canadian Pacific Railway posters.
“To most, snow seems white, but it offers a spectrum of colors to explore depending on the light,” she adds.
Winter travel is just as colorful. Since we began publishing Toque & Canoe in 2011, we’ve been captivated by the joys of winter journeys.
As we celebrate the season—especially now that it’s finally snowing in the Canadian Rockies (better late than never)—let’s take a moment to revisit highlights from our winter coverage over the years.
Looking back, we elevated family travel through a life-affirming backcountry ski adventure at Assiniboine Lodge, set against the backdrop of Canada’s Matterhorn.
In Saskatoon, our writer revealed her passionate love for her icy hometown.
In Manitoba, we encountered polar bears during our primer on Arctic travel and embraced Winnipeg, the “cold land with a warm heart.”
In the Northwest Territories, we created a 60-second video of Yellowknife and enjoyed tasting “smooth, creamy smoked whitefish and” quak, “northern-style sushi made from frozen Arctic char,” thanks to Tundra North Tours.
During our winter adventures, we discovered that the Québécois don’t just endure this season; they embrace it wholeheartedly.
This was evident as we watched canoes race through jagged ice on the frigid St. Lawrence River, cross-country skied on the Traversée de la Gaspésie, winter camped in La Mauricie National Park, and enjoyed fat biking and sleigh rides at Le Baluchon, an eco-village and spa northeast of Montreal.
We also loved highlighting the unique intersection of winter travel and creativity:
A snowboarding photograph from Fernie inspired a beautiful painting. A wilderness guide, who is also a fine art photographer, shared a tender moment in Nunavut. An ice sculptor crafted a stunning voyageurs canoe on the shores of Lake Louise within Banff National Park.
Furthermore, during our occasional international excursions (always with a Canadian twist), we ventured to Iceland during its darkest winter days, uncovering connections linked back to one of our earliest posts, “All. I. Can. The real snow show.”
Originally published over a dozen years ago, this piece featured an interview with two remarkable Canadians: legendary freestyle skier JP Auclair and David Mossop of Sherpas Cinema.
While in Iceland, we learned that Mossop, a renowned filmmaker, has deep ties to this land of fire and ice, having visited numerous times.
During an interview, he described the entire country as “intrinsically marvellous.” Read our feature on this enchanting island, and we think you’ll agree.
“Intrinsically marvellous”? That’s how we feel about Canada, especially during winter.
Fortunately for winter sports enthusiasts in Western Canada, forecasts predict more snow flurries in our country’s mountain parks.
To celebrate winter’s late but welcome arrival, we recently (and joyfully) packed our daypacks with homemade sandwiches, hot tea, and ice cleats, and set out for a chilly hike in the backcountry.
To our followers everywhere, our contributors from coast to coast, and everyone who helps keep our community vibrant, we thank you.
Wishing you good health, happiness, and your own colorful adventures in 2024.
— T&C
Toque & Canoe is an award-winning digital platform dedicated to showcasing stories about travel and culture in Canada and beyond. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
