Reclaiming the Fun: Making Every Season a Joyful Adventure!

Please don’t blame the messenger for this news, but winter has officially arrived.

The holiday break has commenced for local educational institutions. Government agencies, certain professional services, and others are shut down until 2025. Many individuals will be off for part of or the whole holiday season, but numerous businesses remain open.

No matter if you have to work, there are still enjoyable activities to engage in during the Christmas festivities.

Winter is what you choose to make of it. While you may not discover the plethora of outdoor adventures, celebrations, and other enjoyable activities available during the summer months, you also won’t experience those wonderful evenings around a campfire when it’s 20°C at sunset at 8:30 p.m.

However, winter can still be a really fantastic season. There’s much more to winter than remaining indoors with the heating on, waiting for the snow to thaw and springtime to appear. You can do much more outside than just clearing snow from your driveway and walkway.

The recent snowfall has done more than just irritate drivers and assure us of a white Christmas; it has provided us with more opportunities for enjoyment. While there may not yet be sufficient snow for snowmobile fans to take out their sleds, other enjoyable potential activities await.

We’ve observed an increase in snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in recent years. Snowshoes have evolved significantly from the oversized, wooden, cumbersome versions of the past. There are many beautiful parks in the southeast, from Moose Mountain Provincial Park near Carlyle to Woodlawn Regional Park located south of Estevan, featuring excellent trails to enjoy all year round, including during the winter months.

Plus, you can take a stroll while wearing only your winter boots.

You can go tobogganing on one of the hills in your area, utilize an outdoor rink once it’s available, or simply take a leisurely walk. If the weather gets warmer, as predicted, it presents even more reasons to spend time outside.

Take a drive out into the countryside and appreciate the picturesque views with the snow blanketing the fields.

Other activities will recommence once school resumes and people return to the area. The Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins will be back on the ice as they aim for a playoff position. Senior hockey will return with the second half of the Big Six Hockey League’s regular season. Minor hockey will also make its comeback. And there will be a flurry of excitement at the local curling rink.

We are fortunate to enjoy a wealth of excellent cultural amenities in the southeast, and they will be providing various programs in the upcoming months.

There will also be additional events taking place in the next few months, activities that will promise plenty of enjoyment for attendees. Some of these will happen indoors.

Of course, common sense must prevail. If there’s a severe cold alert in place, it’s likely not the best time to try cross-country skiing. If heavy snowfall is predicted, it may be wise to avoid that lengthy country drive. And it might not be advisable to be outside at 8:30 p.m. on a typical night, unless properly dressed for the weather.

Yet, the enjoyment doesn’t cease just because winter has arrived. There’s still an abundance of activities for you to partake in. With the shortest day of the year behind us, we can anticipate a bit more sunlight with each passing day.