Where the cold is a reason to celebrate

Minus 22 degrees? Since it is for the residents of Edmonton. You make the Winter a Festival.

By Ingrid Brunner

Frozen Yogurt goes in Edmonton is also at minus 22 degrees. While in German ice cream parlors in Winter, gingerbread will be sold, will continue to run in the capital of the canadian province of Alberta the business. Well, who wants to, can get a couple of doors further on, a hot Pho-Bo soup, but generally speaking, Canadians face the Winter on very pragmatic. monster snow ploughs open spaces of the streets. Eisfräsen cutting tracks in the snow drifts, driving at the end of the steam devices of ice melting away. Pulling on a thick Parka, and life goes on.

in North America, motorists drive in the summer prudent winter you are just a little more careful on the road. In Edmonton, the pedestrian in the trendy district of Old Strathcona stroll without hurry from shop to shop, chatting about all kinds of things, but weather and snow are not an issue. The people go out, do sports and Dating. The density and quality of the Restaurants and cocktail bars you would expect in a metropolis. It was not always so. The city is situated at 1000 meters of altitude, and the winters are long. "At some point, it became clear to us that we need a strategy, the city was in the Winter just gone," said Daniel Cournoyer. He is one of Edmonton's French-language community. None of them went out, he says, is why there wasn't any. It had to happen. So the idea to organize a Festival was created seven years ago: "the Flying Canoe", French "Canoë Volant". Cournoyer is its Director. He says: "We wanted to live and bring joy in the Winter, and a bridge to the other residents to build."

drums, vocals, tipi village: At a Festival in February is playing the legend of the Flying canoe.

(photo: explore Edmonton)

During the three days of the festival, which always takes place in February, transforms the French quarter into a magical world in which everything revolves around the legend of the Flying canoe - a in Canada widespread to Say that there are many variants. Visitors Hiking at night through the river landscape of the Mill Creek, in the tents of the specially-constructed tipi village carvers work, there are drum demonstrations and singing, camp fires and dancing. So could also bring the canadian aboriginal people to the Festival. Fantastic light sculptures illuminate the way. And in the French community centre, there are stalls with specialities, concerts and a large children's program.

The winter strategy has long been recognized in the entire city. The shows can be found on a bike ride with Michael MacFynn. He is a passionate cyclist of the year. In the Winter, he rides with a face mask and heated gloves. "German make, to recommend," he jokes. In driving snow on Fat Bikes with extra-wide, in the snow, lift the tire of the City give down into the River Valley. The North Saskatchewan River has created a canyon-like river valley, the city has made it a green belt with Parks and a 160-kilometre-long network of paths. In the Winter, city officials turn a part of the way in Iceways, ice ways, to which Edmontonians to Skate. Other paths to Trails for cross-country skiers, Fat Bikes are allowed. "Share the trails" is on signs, not a Problem for the relaxed Canadians. In the Park there is a Winter picnic areas and in Hawrelak Park created by artists each year an Ice castle with ice sliding, and a throne made of ice, with a Labyrinth and chambers, in their Eisfenster Lovers carve their names.

Anstengend: Even in snow, here is a Fat Bike Tour to the River Valley.

(photo: Ingrid Brunner)

The Ice is a welcome stop because of snow Driving is on Fat Bikes is hard work. Even going downhill you have to. Despite the freezing cold, the Inexperienced come in such a sweat that they would tear at the loved one, the thermal underwear from the body. But Michael MacFynn discourages. The wind chill, the Cool of the wind, make minus 18 degrees quickly to what felt like minus 29 degrees.

Also in the evening not enough to have the Locals of snow and ice. If your ice hockey team, the Edmonton Oilers, has a home game, Rogers sold out the Place. The ice rink is part of a 2016 opened a multi-purpose arena, with space for more than 18 000 spectators. It is a great experience, even the mood at a canadian hockey game to witness. Whole families come out, many in the fan shirt, some dressed up, very many immigrants. All you cheer your Team to work all eat the same Fast Food: Integration of on-channel seems to disch.

The Locals meet at the hockey stadium at the home game of the Oilers. The ice arena Rogers Place is part of a 2016 opened a multi-purpose arena with Seating for more than 18,000 spectators.

(photo: explore Edmonton)

On some Fanshirts is Draisaitl. The Cologne-Leon Draisaitl is favorites center forward on the Oilers Team and one of the audience. The Name Oilers refers to the cause from Edmonton: The Northern Alberta-lying oil sand fields have made Edmonton to Boomtown. This is ecologically questionable, but the promotion of the oil Sands has brought jobs for the middle class. Anyone who works in the oil fields and good money, treat yourself and the family in the leisure time also. The colorful and sophisticated restaurant scene is alive.

For example, the Café Linnea. The Name and interior are Swedish, as are the roots of the 30-year-old Boss, Kelsey Johnson. It relies on a mixture of euro-canadian world kitchen. All the ingredients are fresh and come from a radius of a maximum of 80 kilometers. Even directly out of the city: Ökogärtner pull on fallow land and in old warehouses vegetables and herbs. Opening in 2016, in the following year, Linnea was listed by Air Canada as Canada's best new Restaurant. Anyone who has ever tried the home-pickled Graved salmon on potato-Pray-buffer, understands why. The evening might start in the cocktail bar Clementine on Jasper Avenue. The Cocktails are superbly mixed, and their preparation is a fun Show: The glasses are flavoured in front of the guest part with local herbs. Depending on the Temperament of an atmospheric Restaurant with first-class meat dishes it could go with a Mexican cooking show in the Rostizado, or relaxing by the fire in the Woodwork. As the Entree, no one needs to try the grilled Brussels sprouts.

In the trendy district of Old Strathcona, there are many Restaurants and shopping opportunities.

(photo: Ingrid Brunner)

Supposedly, the body will burn when it's cold, Yes, more calories. Who would not want to rely on it, you can run back on the Fat Bike swing, ice-Skating or sledding. Or leave the city: Only about 40 kilometers away from Edmonton, Elk Island national Park is located. There, in the long-run bison in free can wild ride. Or one with power in the beginning of February at the Birkebeiner race, a competition, the "Canadian Birkies" from Norway were imported. He also goes back to a legend. According to the birkebeiners during a civil war in the 13th century. A century of the Royal Baby on cross-country skiing 54 km skiing from Rena to Lillehammer and the Power of profound Baglern saved. Birch bark should wrap no one around the legs, as the Birkebeiner did. Function clothes might do. But who wants to, dresses up as a Viking, or running with a 5.5-kilogram backpack, as a Symbol for the rescued child.

snow and ice spread in Edmonton no terror. You make it rather a Festival. "It is easier to warm up than cool off," says Daniel Cournoyer. Not Frozen Yogurt.

travel information

arrival: of KLM flying from Amsterdam non-stop service to Edmonton, ab 539 Euro return, www.klm.com

accommodation: The Mettera Boutique Hotel in Old Strathcona from around 120 euros per night, www.metterra.com

gastronomy: Café Linnea, 10932 119 Street Northwest, www.cafelinnea.ca; Clementine www.barclementine.ca; Woodwork Restaurant, 10132 100 Street Northwest, https://woodworkyeg.com; Rostizado, 102 10359 104 St, www.rostizado.com

festival: Flying Canoe Volant, 31.1. to 2.2., www.flyingcanoevolant.ca Canadian Birkie Ski Festival, 8. up to 10.2 in., www.canadianbirkie.com

Further information: www.exploreedmonton.com

a journey of Research for this contribution was supported in part by event organizers, Hotels, airlines and/or tourism agencies.