40+ Stunning Shots That Showcase the Beauty of the Canadian Winter
Updated: Jan. 16, 2020From British Columbia to New Brunswick, these spectacular shots crystallize the stillness and tranquil beauty of the Canadian winter.
Frosty Footbridge
Need motivation to get outdoors this winter? Check out this spectacular scenery! Dan Pearson of Regina snapped this lovely shot on his morning walk along the Devonian Pathway through nearby A.E. Wilson Park.
Iconic Symbol
“I think when someone sees a CN train, they automatically think Canada,” says Anne Doerksen of Carrot River, Sask. “I like the colours of the train against the white frosted trees in this photo. I’m reminded of years gone by when the old steam engine trains would roll across the vast Prairie landscape.”
Competing Seasons
“After a heavy overnight snowfall, this was the scene that greeted me the next morning,” shares Emiliano Joanes of St. Hubert, Que. “The trapped autumn leaves created an interesting composition which prompted me to snap the photo.”
Classic Beauty
“I took this photo during March break on the shores of Lake Superior in Marathon, Ont.,” writes Megan Koevoet of Whitefish Falls, Ont. “My twin sister and I decided to explore Pebble Beach after an ice storm. This pic depicts the beauty and power of Lake Superior and our northern winters.”
Back in the Day
“While driving to Algonquin Park, I spotted this hockey rink on Opeongo Lake,” says Paul Sinclair of Lindsay, Ont. “As I pulled my car over to take a pic, I flashed back to playing hockey every Saturday morning on a local pond. It brought back some of my fondest childhood memories.”
Patriotic View
“Nothing says Canada more than our country’s flag, which really pops against this cold, snowy backdrop here in Lethbridge,” writes Leonard Heinonen of Lethbridge, Alta.
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Time Travel
Lynne Morand of Tecumseh, Ont., shares this starkly beautiful image taken at John R. Park Homestead Conservation Area, a popular historic site in Harrow, Ont.
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Nostalgic
Lindsay McIntosh-Mainville of Maxville, Ont., writes, “This barn was located on land my parents purchased in the area about 35 years ago. It used to house young heifers for the winter months. It was torn down in 2018 and a new one erected in its place.”
Don’t miss these breathtaking photos of barns across Canada.
Let There Be Light
“I love night photography but it can be a challenge when it comes to portraits,” shares Deana McNeish of Airdrie, Alta. “I fell in love with ‘light painting’ photography as it allows me to combine my love of both.”
Frozen
“This shot was taken at the Hôtel de Glace (Ice Hotel) in Quebec City,” writes Roger Lafontaine of Cornwall, Ont. The entire structure and everything in it is made of ice—the lights really enhance the effect.”
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Bright Lights, Big City
Mark Verge of Stony Plain, Alta., sent along this amazing shot he took one cold, winter Edmonton night. “Edmonton has an amazing skyline, including the new Walterdale Bridge that replaced the old one,” says Mark.
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Fire in the Sky
“My brother and I were trying to create an image that included ‘light painting’ beneath the northern lights,” explains Brandon Born of Cold Lake, Alta. “Here, we lit ultra-fine steel wool on fire to create the sparks, while also using EL (electroluminescent) wire to create the red glow in the foreground. Using a remote trigger and having the shutter open for a minute to gather all the different sources of light resulted in this pic.”
Beauty in Isolation
“The combination of the ‘cold’ colours of the mountains, snow, sky and the boathouse are what caught my eye in this scene,” says John Kearsley of Calgary. “I took this photo on frozen Lake Minnewanka in Banff National Park.”
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Frosty Trek
“This barn stands about a mile from my parents’ homestead near Roblin, Man.,” writes Donna Lowe of Brandon, Man. “It’s been empty for as long as I can remember, but it’s still in great condition. On a cold winter day a couple of Christmases ago, when the hoarfrost was thick, I decided to take a walk to photograph it. The wind was at my back when I trekked out to capture this shot, but it was a cold walk back home—still worth the trip, though!”
Magical Transformation
“I love this image of frost coating the trees, which I snapped in my backyard, as it shows how beautiful and intriguing even a frigidly cold winter day in Manitoba can be,” writes Krystal Drotar of Brandon, Man.
Wait for Me!
“I snapped this shot of my dog Iggi and cat Dood during a snowstorm on one of our daily walks,” shares Melissa Connors of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. “There is a special connection between these two: Dood follows Iggi everywhere!”
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The View from Above
“I captured this photo on Valentine’s Day, 2018, on the shore of Kootenay Lake,” says Leone Lund of Gray Creek, B.C. “Winters can be grey out here, but when the sun comes out it’s spectacular! This is the view from our deck overlooking our neighbours’ place and Kootenay Lake itself. The lake never freezes over in winter and if you’re the hardy type, that’s when fishing can be at its best.”
A Family Affair
“Not long ago, thanks to a little teamwork, my husband and I, along with our two young sons, built three giant snow-people in front of my in-laws’ home,” shares Breanne Vanwart of Penhold, Alta. “No matter how old I get, rolling heavy wet snow makes me feel like a kid again. I get even more joy from watching my children explore the white blanket that keeps Canada cozy all winter long.”
Finding the Beauty in the Canadian Winter
“I took this photo at Petticoat Creek here in Pickering, Ontario,” says John Stager. “I hiked here the day after a major snowstorm and, as sunset approached, I captured this beautiful image of the snow-covered bridge with the sun beginning to set in the distance. It’s not my favourite season weather-wise, but I do love winter landscapes and these kinds of sights really highlight the beauty of the Canadian winter.”
Morning Frost
Nicole Watson of Kingston, Ontario, snapped this stunning pic while out for a morning drive. “This tree caught my eye,” says Nicole. “There was a low-lying fog and the sun was peeking out just enough to kiss the frost-covered branches.”
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Winter Sky
Jackie Gartner of Lloydminster, Alberta, shares this starkly beautiful shot that she captured on a back road near St. Walburg, Saskatchewan.
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A Quiet Moment
Marcel Gingras of Montreal shares this lovely image, writing, “This was taken in Our Lady of Mont Carmel cemetery on Prince Edward Island. It was our first trip to the island in winter and the light was beautiful that day. It was so peaceful; not a sound could be heard.”
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Canadian Rainbow
Shawn Cormier of Moncton, New Brunswick, shares this quintessentially Canadian winter shot!
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Windswept on Lake Huron
Dale Matthies of Goderich, Ontario, snapped this frosty pic last winter along the Goderich Beach shoreline.
You can see more of Dale’s stunning snaps in this roundup of Canada’s best black-and-white photography.
Ice Diamonds
Russ Hayes of Sherbrooke, Quebec, captured this eye-catching image of the sparkling ice crystals coating the frozen surface of nearby Lac Brompton.
Check out more fantastic photography of snow-covered Canadian landscapes!
Barely There
These three ptarmigans are perfectly camouflaged to blend in with their wintry surroundings! Audrey Henderson of Yellowknife snapped this amazing shot in her yard on a cold winter day several years ago.
Check out more beautiful Canadian birds captured on camera.
Cold Comfort
Cathy Martin of Miramichi, New Brunswick, writes, “I love this farm in New Jersey, New Brunswick. It is a short drive from my home and I go just to have a look at it each season. I am not a fan of winter, but I try to get out and find the beauty in it. This farm really provided a postcard-perfect view of winter on a bright, cold day.”
Don’t miss our countdown of Canada’s coolest winter travel destinations!
The Height of Beauty
Edith Beerda of Smithers, British Columbia, says, “I love this photo because a good part of Canada experiences snowy winters, and what could be more beautiful than a crisp, sunny, winter day? It makes the temperature seem not so bad. On this day, the Bulkley Valley was covered in a blanket of fog, but as we drove up the hill, all of a sudden the sky cleared and we were able to drink in this beautiful view—it was a sight to behold!”
After the Storm
“When the snowstorm ended and it had warmed up to a balmy -20 degrees Celsius, I was able to get outside to snap this image,” shares Sarah Sobry of Brandon, Manitoba. “The low light from the setting sun shone through the trees, creating a beautiful pattern on the ground.”
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Kings of the Mountain
“I snapped this pic of my son Anderson (right) and his friend Cayd as they were having a great time playing atop what seems like the world’s largest snow pile,” writes Dan Ventrudo of Thunder Bay, Ontario.
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A Kiss from the Canadian Winter
E.J. Thiessen of Coaldale, Alberta, shares this awesome image, writing: “Last January, Jack Frost painted this southern Alberta landscape with icing-sugar-like frost—the result was jaw-dropping.”
Intrepid Explorer
Marlene Parker of Campbellton, New Brunswick, shares this adorable photo, writing: “This is my then-one-year-old granddaughter Dahlia out for an afternoon excursion on Lake Nipissing, Ontario. It looks more like she’s crawling along the surface of the moon!”
Majestic Mountains
Gillian Reain of Waterloo, Ontario, writes, “Last year, I was fortunate enough to travel to Alberta and explore more of our beautiful country. I snapped this photo upon seeing the incredible Canadian Rockies for the very first time. I had seen them in pictures before, but to see them in person was truly an amazing experience that I think every Canadian should have the opportunity to enjoy. Our Canada is vast, beautiful and scenic, and I think this picture perfectly represents that.”
Iced Over
Linda Swance of Burlington, Ont., captured this amazing shot of Hamilton Harbour (formerly Burlington Bay) the morning after a night of freezing rain.
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Frosted Glass
Norma Keith of Baltimore, Ont., snapped this pic of a street lamp encased in ice—very cool!
Through the Ice
Marilyn Kamstra of Tottenham, Ont., shares this lovely image of viewing the sunset through a veil of icicles.
The Road Less Travelled
Beth Thomander of Beaver Bank, N.S., writes, “While on a weekend away with our son Grant at a hockey tournament in Thorburn, N.S., an ice storm hit overnight. The following day, I managed to capture a shot of this gorgeous farm down a side road.“
Winter Wildlife
Photography buff Kevin Pashuk of Oakville, Ont., writes, “I am rarely without my camera, which helps me capture the things that capture my attention. I am not a professional photographer, but rather a curator of the curious, the small details that many may miss in their busy lives.”
This is what it’s like photographing wildlife in the dead of winter.
A Snow-Covered Rose
Kevin Pashuk of Oakville, Ont., writes, “Birds aren’t the only thing to photograph in the wintertime. Winter brings a beauty of its own!”
A Cool Perspective
Nicholas Taffs of Airdrie, Alta., snapped this self-portrait while ice fishing on Badger Lake near Lomond, Alta. “This day, I’d taken my then- one-year-old daughter Olivia on her very first trip to the lake,” shares Nicholas. “Fishing was always a family affair growing up and I plan to do the same with my daughter.”
A Spectacular View
Alicia Strelkov of Olds, Alta., writes, “My husband Neil and I love hiking in the Rocky Mountains. We also love photography; so much so that I will carry an extra 30 pounds of camera equipment on my hikes. On this cold winter day, we were hiking the Johnston Canyon trail in Banff National Park. I spotted this amazing ice climber, who first appeared to be a small dot, till I looked through my camera lens. I then saw not only the beautiful blue tones in the ice but also the contrasting colours of the climber. It made my day even more special.“
A Fetching Photo
Taylor Cotnam of Thorold, Ont., writes, ”After my mom and I heard about the amazing ice formations at nearby Crystal Beach, we had to check it out. I snapped this photo of a man playing fetch with his dog on a part of Lake Erie that had frozen over.“
Here’s how to submit your own original Canadian photography for publication in Our Canada magazine!