A Canadian Experience

With this blog, I hope to give you something: A Canadian Experience. The majority of people have major misconceptions about Canada. With that being said, a lot of what you hear about is actually is true. For example some Canadians really do say "eh" in every single sentence. Some don't, of course, but some do. Also, Canadians love hockey. Not all Canadians, but a lot of us do. But it's important for you to note that I'm not a typical Canadian. Approximately 86% of Canadians live in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia; I am not one of them. An even bigger percentage live in the southern half of the country within only a few hours of the U.S. Border. I am not on of them either. I live about half way into the country where the Boreal Forest meets the Tundra. We call this the North and it's an amazing experience. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. So many people can't handle living in the north because of all the hardships that you have to overcome and the many trials you have to learn to live with, but that's how I thrive. My community is named Churchill. Churchill is tucked onto a little peninsula on the coast of he Hudson Bay. If you travel a couple hours north you'll arrive at the nunuvut border and 2000 kilometers (1240 miles for you Americans) south of us is Manitoba's capital city, Winnipeg. Winnipeg is a measly hour from the United States border. Churchill is only is existence because of nature. Every years thousands of people flock from all over the globe to come see our wildlife. We are home to Hundreds of polar bears from June to November as they wait for the Hudson Bay to freeze so they can go out and hunt for seals. Also, during July, August, and occasionally September we live among thousands of Beluga Whales. Many other animals and experiences bring in the tourists including fox's, snowy owls, many other birds, and dogsledding. The hottest month of the year for us is typically July, when our average high is 18 degrees. The coldest month is January; our average high is -22 degrees. Celsius of course. The winter temperatures of September, October, November, December, January, and February feel much colder, though. It is not unusual to get 50 or 60 kilometer an hour winds which automatically brings the temperature down about ten degrees. A few times last year the wind reached 90 kilometer an hour. It's not the dull cold that some of you might be used to, either. It's a biting, caustic cold. No one understands the meaning of the term "sharp cold" until they experience it; but the cold in Churchill truly is a sharp cold. I hope this gives you an idea of my life in Northern Canada and wets your appetite for what is to come. Welcome to A Canadian Experience.