Ma ville ce n'est pas une ville, c'est l'hiver

With the latest snowfall on Toronto, the sound bites on the news have included such predictable laments as "I should be in Barbados" and "I hate winter." I have repeatedly defended Mel Lastman's enlistment of the army to dig Toronto out of a record snowfall a decade ago but it is hard to tolerate the whining and negative attitude towards winter in this city.

Christopher Hume's article covers many of the thoughts that have been running through my head. However, I would still like to rant about people who insist on wearing Fall jackets in -25C weather. Every day, I see at least two or three pedestrians inappropriately dressed for winter, and it makes no sense. There are many fashionable winter coats; technical puffy coats, polished wool pea coats, classic shearling coats - all would be more useful than a leather jacket or a wind breaker and just as stylish. Even if it is a matter of cost, I think any winter coat is worth the investment since Torontonians experience at least five months of inhospitable weather every year.

Perhaps Torontonians fail to see the appeal of winter because we have limited access to fun winter activities like skiing, dog sledding and snowmobiling. Still, the complaining about winter has to stop. Lastman's enlistment of the army was a one time transgression but winter bitching has become a seasonal past time and doubly embarrassing to be sure.