A Very Canadian Christmas Message from Martin Malivoire

Like many snowbirds, I won’t be flying south this winter.

The upside has been a revelation: an opportunity to see more of the wonderful places in my own country.  Some require travel, but many are within driving distance.  There are some I’ve long meant to visit, but put off doing so, reasoning I can always go later.  Well, later has become now, and that has been a gift.

Admiring Holiday Season decorations around the main street of Beamsville made me curious about how the coming of Christmas brightens the streetscapes of other small Ontario towns.  It touched on warm personal memories of winter lights on Colborne Steet in Oakville, and later in Greek Town on the Danforth (where I once lived), and many more in Toronto’s other vibrant ethnic communities.

 I must mention the gastronomic and cultural side of Montreal and the majesty of a snowy evening near Parliament Hill and the National War Memorial in Ottawa, complete with, weather permitting, a skate along the storied Rideau Canal.  I’ve welcomed the chance to appreciate other great wine regions of Ontario, the rural charm of Prince Edward County, for example.

 This only scratches the surface of my own discoveries so far this year.  When I raised the subject with the people around my winery, I wasn’t surprised to find others, people you know, have similar stories to tell.   Here’s what the opportunity for time and travel, here in THIS great country has meant for some of them:

 For Christine, admiring a snowy winter night sky by an open fire, outside a forest geodome near Port Perry.  Later, a hike in bracing, snowy fresh air to a lookout over the Elora Gorge. 

(Martin’s aside:  The Elora area is wonderful to explore on foot in winter- I’ll have to lend Christine some snowshoes.)

 For Eric, a fall visit to hometown Winnipeg, highlighted by the trails of Assiniboine Park and a pre-season game at “the loudest arena in the NHL”, then a flight to see family in Thunder Bay. 

(Martin’s aside:  I heard both cities were uncharacteristically snowless.)

 For Shiraz, immersion in the Atlantic seaside lifestyle of Prince Edward Island, with its endless beaches and fusion of Acadian and Celtic cultures, and feasting on locally sourced oysters, a snowball’s throw from the home of Lucy Maud Montgomery.

(Martin’s aside:  A winter stay at the Inn at Bay Fortune is enchanting.)

 For Stacy, a deeper dive into her maternal family’s hometown of Collingwood.  This year’s annual visit added athletic challenges in the form of a Ridge Runner downhill coaster ride and a tree-top Canopy Climb at Blue Mountain.

(Martin’s aside: I love that area too, packing cross-country skis and snowshoes to visit family and old friends near Midland and Penetang… except for my sister, who would happily be there, if not wintering in Portugal.  But I digress). 

 For Tammy, precious time with her two “kids” in Montreal, a city Tammy adores.  She’ll remember the Mural Festival along Boulevard Saint-Laurent, exploring vibrant downtown streets, and admiring the island city from the snow-clad peak of Mont Royal.

(Martin’s aside:  I can almost hear Tammy giving wine advice on a chance encounter with Justin and Katy.)

 That’s a small sample from some of us, of local discoveries, surprises and lasting impressions.  Now that I think of it, I haven’t talked about the Festival Bonhomme in Quebec City or seeing dear friends in Oliver B.C., hometown hockey or curling, skating or ice fishing, snowboarding or snowmobiling, making snowmen or snow angels, trekking into the woods to a tree farm or sugar bush, sledding or tobogganing, joining local Holiday festivals in Jordan Village or Port Colborne… there are so many.  It’s a great country we live in; I’d say, the greatest.

 To you from all of us at Malivoire wine, our hopes that you cherish your own memories, and will add to them over Christmas, the Holiday Season and the beautiful snowy winter days to come.