Climate change is transforming winter outdoor activities like skating and skiing, but we can take action to protect them.
A few days ago, I skated at an outdoor rink in Montreal. If you’re familiar with my previous articles, you know I live in a city that experiences all four seasons, with famously cold winters. It’s been a year since I last stepped onto the ice, and this winter has felt different. Last year, not only did my schedule allow for more skating, but the temperatures were warmer, too. For outdoor rinks to be functional, we need several consecutive days of below-zero temperatures to ensure the ice freezes and stays frozen. Unfortunately, with the changing climate, that’s becoming more difficult.
In Montreal and across many parts of Canada, outdoor skating has become trickier with the rising impact of climate change. In Ottawa, home to the iconic Rideau Canal—a 7.5-kilometre natural rink that attracts tourists and locals alike—climate change is taking its toll. Last year, the canal was only open for skating for 10 days, whereas the usual skating season averages around 50 days. Warmer winters are shortening the window for skating and affecting not only tourism but also the cultural significance of these beloved winter traditions.
Ski resorts are facing similar struggles. As natural snowfall becomes less reliable, many ski hills are turning to artificial snow-making machines to maintain their slopes. Montreal has even introduced a refrigerated sledding slide to ensure that people can still enjoy winter activities despite unpredictable temperatures and a lack of snow. Some areas are also investing in refrigerated skating rinks to guarantee a place for people to skate during winter. While these innovations help extend the winter season, they come with their own environmental challenges. The energy required to run refrigeration systems and snow-making machines can be significant, potentially offsetting some of the environmental benefits.
In addition to these changes in traditional winter sports, the impacts of climate change are being felt in unexpected places. Areas known for their hot winter climates, such as Florida, Texas, Louisiana, and Georgia, experienced snowfall in January. Some regions saw several inches of snow, a rare and surprising event for these typically warm places. For those of us who are used to the cold, the unpredictability of winter weather has become unsettling. Snowbirds—Canadians who travel south for the winter—are reconsidering their trips due to the erratic nature of weather patterns.
So, what can we do in the face of these changes? It’s easy to feel helpless when the consequences of climate change seem so vast and far-reaching. It’s even easier when some people in power continue to downplay the issue or suggest that there’s nothing we can do about it. But that’s not true. Change is inevitable, but the direction in which it moves is still within our control. We need to use our voices and take action—especially now, as we approach a federal election in Canada.
The upcoming election presents an opportunity to elect leaders who will prioritize the environment and the protection of winter traditions. By voting for candidates committed to sustainable policies—such as increasing the use of clean energy, implementing carbon taxes, and safeguarding natural spaces—we can help push Canada in a direction that supports both the environment and future generations of winter enthusiasts.
But it’s not just about voting; it’s also about joining movements already working to make a difference. Organizations, like Protect Our Winters Canada, are focused on giving the outdoor industry a collective voice and pushing for systemic change. They aim to transform our economy and energy systems and reduce carbon emissions to protect the activities we love, including outdoor winter sports. Supporting such organizations and getting involved in their efforts can amplify the impact of your voice and help make a real difference.
On a personal level, there are several ways we can reduce our carbon footprints and contribute to the broader fight against climate change. Using public transportation or driving less, eating locally, and adopting more sustainable lifestyles are just a few examples of actions that, when taken collectively, can have a significant impact. Reducing energy consumption, switching to renewable energy sources, and being mindful of our environmental impact are small steps that can make a big difference.
While the challenges posed by climate change may seem daunting, they also allow us to reimagine how we engage with our environment. With the right policies, innovation, and collective action, we can preserve winter sports and traditions for future generations. But that requires all of us to be active participants in the fight against climate change. The time to act is now—before the winter wonderlands we love become nothing more than a distant memory.
