Extreme cold doesn't deter Winnipeggers from enjoying outdoor activities on Louis Riel Day

The southern half of the province remains locked under an extreme cold weather warning, but that didn't stop many Winnipeggers from braving the bone-chilling temperatures and enjoying Louis Riel Day outdoors.

With many people off work and children out of the classroom, The Forks and Whittier Park — home of the 56th annual Festival du Voyageur — were popular outdoor holiday destinations Monday.

Josh Watt and his family look forward to attending the festival, also known as Winnipeg's winter festival, every year.

"For us, this is almost like Christmas," he said.

"It's a chance to remember our roots, but also to celebrate the future. We love the music, we love the food and, of course, we love the company."

Each dressed in their capot, Watt's family didn't mind the frosty weather, which saw wind chill values dip below –40, and even –50 in some parts of the province early Monday morning.

Watt spent time doing a craft in a tipi with his daughter, hoping to pass down generational wisdom and knowledge.

"It basically taught her about the seven generations that had come before us, as well as the seven generations yet to come, and how important it is to keep that in mind with every decision we make," he said.

Karen Ralcewicz is a teacher who used to teach French at a previous posting. She often brought her students out to the winter festival.

A Festival du Voyageur volunteer for the past decade-plus, she too didn't mind stepping outside on a frigid winter day in Winnipeg.

"I think it gets me out in the winter, just seeing everybody and just being part of the French culture," she said.

Ralcewicz was also dressed in a capot of her own, which features three blankets and an old coat that she estimates took her 10 hours to sew together.

Spending time outdoors in winter breaks the cycle of spending more time inside, she said.

"Being outside in the winter, you know, it is Winnipeg. It is cold but you need to get out there and enjoy it," Ralcewicz said.

Owen Smith was out enjoying the activities at Whittier Park with his mom and little sister on Monday.

The seven-year-old boy is really a big fan of the traditional maple taffy that's eaten off the snow.

"It's just Festival du Voyageur is just really, really fun," he said.

So too is skating along the Nestaweya River Trail with his kids and grandkids, says John Koncan, who is from Huntsville, Ont.

"We visit Winnipeg several times a year. One of the reasons we come is to skate the longest [river] trail in Canada, so we love it," he said.

However, after 40 minutes on the river trail, Koncan admitted it was time to go inside to warm up for a bit.

"We have to. It is just way too cold to stay out there. The wind is so cutting. It's like razors cutting on your cheek," he said.

The blistering cold didn't prevent members of Winnipeg's Scottish community from throwing on their kilts and lacing up their skates as part of the Great Canadian Kilt Skate at Assiniboine Park on Monday.

"What it says about Manitobans is we are a hearty group of people, we really are. We don't mind celebrating winter and this is just another way of doing it. And this just gives us a chance to spread a little Scottish culture, and a little Scottish heritage," said Dwight MacAulay, president of the St. Andrews Society of Winnipeg.

Holiday closure for popular ski hill

Although there were no new temperature records set Sunday night or Monday, the cold weather prompted the closure of western Manitoba's favourite ski hills.

Asessippi Ski Resort, located near Russell and about 350 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, was forced to close operations Monday due to the extreme cold.

"At 8:00 a.m., it was –50 degrees with the air and the wind chill, and it's just not safe to operate for our staff and our guests at that temperature," said Shannon Johnston, the resort's assistant manager.

Additionally, just one of Asessippi's three aerial chairlifts were open Sunday.

The resort has a cold weather policy in place that's been tweaked over the years, but Asessippi tends to make a decision between noon and 2 p.m. the day before a possible closure so that would-be skiers and snowboarders can alter their plans.

"We never want to close. We never want to let anyone down. We never want to disappoint anyone. But we also need to make sure that we keep everyone safe and happy," Johnson said.

"We look at the weather 100 times a day and it just did not change. In fact, it kept getting colder and colder."

The cold weather also forced the resort to cancel its fireworks show on Sunday, and push back its Rail Warz event one week to this coming Saturday.

The Louis Riel weekend is usually a busy time for Asessippi, but Johnston is looking forward to above-seasonal weather next weekend.

"We are just so looking forward to everyone coming out once the weather turns," she said. "I think we're all tired of this weather and everyone wants to get out of their house. So we are ready for you."