Provided we can throw any debate about global warming out the window, we can all agree in this part of the province at least, it's been a great winter. Well, as long as you don't like snowmobiling, or skiing, or driving your car into a ditch.
I moved here from England in 1989, and until then I'd never witnessed anything like a typical Canadian winter. Back across the pond, a few snowflakes around the holidays was all we saw - not so much a white Christmas as a dandruffy Christmas.
So this year, with them taking on our usual weather (thanks, Brits!), I've got a lot of laughs at the expense of friends and relatives over in the Motherland. Their closing of the M-series of motorways is akin to the OPP deciding to close the 400-series of highways, which should give you some idea of how crippling and unusual "real" winter weather is there. Decisions like these are not taken lightly.
I do wonder, however, what this let-off might mean to us culturally if it becomes our new winter climate. Would it make us any less Canadian?
I take a lot of stick for not growing up here, particularly when I complain about the cold. "Not a real Canadian," is the most usual barb, and it stings, because I say "thank you" and "eh" as much as the next guy. I've got a little card to prove I'm Canadian, too. I just cannot, and will not, bring myself to enjoy sub-zero temperatures. But I've learned to live with it - which doesn't mean I won't whine about it, just not as much. Certainly not to certain people.
Love it or hate it, snow brings us together across this country. No matter if you're on the west coast, the east coast, or at any point in-between, if you're living in Canada, you move white stuff. Having to clear mounds of it off the car and driveway before you can attempt to struggle through knee-deep drifts on the way to work, only to have to repeat the process in reverse at the end of the day - there's little doubt this is character-building stuff.
So now, imagine a whole generation of Canadians growing up without the grueling battle against snow from November to April.
How different would they be from their forefathers? Look no further than the southern hemisphere. Snow is what sets us apart from the Australians. Well, as far as I know... it's not like I've ever been, or researched it too much, but I know I've never seen an Australian crippling himself as he tackles the wall of ice left by a dastardly plough driver at the foot of his driveway.
We're both Commonwealth countries harbouring secret desires to sever ties to Great Britain. We both have a rich history of inventors and artists that anyone beyond our borders thinks is American or British. We both love the barbecue, and both enjoy a cold Molson lager - Canadian or Fosters. We both have historical issues dealing with the natives of the land. Over there, aboriginals were less than thrilled when the first boatload of criminals arrived from Blighty. Speaking of which, it's interesting to note criminals were a foundation of Australia's population - in Canada, it was a more recent change in immigration policy to allow criminals from other nations to live freely here.
So as much as I usually hate the typical Canuck winter, I'm hoping the 2009-10 edition is an anomaly for the sake of our country, and our culture. The freezing winds and piles of snow are what they are - a pain in the rear, but an essential force behind us as a people.
Honestly, do you believe the country could get behind a Team Canada cricket team at the summer Games the same way we got behind Crosby and co.?