AYLMER, QUEBEC | Is there anyone who isn't talking about the snow?

There's been plenty to discuss: the sheer volume of snow and the rapidity with which snow storms have swept through our region are major topics, as are the costs of removal and the shortage of space for dumping snow. Plenty are complaining about driving and walking conditions, reduced visibility, and roof collapses.

There are pluses.

This has been a beautiful winter, far from the usual freeze and thaw cycle which leaves us with brown fields in many winters; the fresh snow has kept the street-sides sparking like mountains, not like piles of dirty laundry, which is usually the case at this time of year.

Skiers, snow-shoers, photographers and snowmobilers have found this winter very beautiful. And since we are destined to have long and cold winters, why not have a real, old-fashioned winter we can appreciate?

Winter is a mixed blessing.

We're accustomed to changing seasons, so other climes seem bland. Who claim BC's wet and dry seasons are a substitute for four seasons? Four seasons keep us on our toes; we have to prepare for the long winter, and ready ourselves for spring's quick and dramatic appearance.

Handling all this snow has big costs.

There are building collapses and house fires associated with severe winters. There is, of course, the expenses of clearing and hauling the snow, and the extra costs this year are cutting into budgets for other municipal projects. We might remember this, when we look at environment-friendly projects or tourism and sports facilities elsewhere. They do not have to pay for such winters as do we, and that means we have to pass up some municipal frills.

Imagine if Vancouver Island had to deal with such a winter, or Toronto, Vancouver, or Calgary.

Not only would we see them in crisis, as we saw Toronto a few years ago when the army had to be called in, but we would see fewer of the grand projects that we envy. Our consolation is that we attract a smaller population; we avoid the crowding of the milder cities south of us. I'll trade bad winters to avoid their jammed-up, polluted cities and congested routes,

This winter's extreme snow also reminds us that the term Òglobal warmingÓ is not accurate. ÒClimate changeÓ is better, since ÒwarmingÓ sounds attractive to cold-weary Canadians, although the collateral damage of a warming climate will be difficult for even us to live with -- from the northward spread of diseases to species loss and the drying up of our water reserves. Yes, the planet is warming, but that doesn't mean all areas will be warmer all the time; it means radical climate swings, more extremes.

Just as the USA has to prepare itself for more and stronger hurricanes and tornados, we Canadians will have to accept big swings from mild, dry winters to outrageous snow dumps like this year's near-record. How exactly we can prepare ourselves for such radical climate swings is a difficult question to answer.

One start is that we try to minimize the causes of climate change. A pound of prevention can be worth five tons of snowÉ

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Copyright © 2008 Fred Ryan/Log Cabin Chronicles/03.08