IlluminAqua's Hibernation

This is where IlluminAqua's vibrant concert series takes place in Welland during the summer months. Under a fresh application of snow, its curving benches almost appear abstract and you can really appreciate the beauty of the design.

That's one of the beautiful things about snow: the way it changes the landscape so what you are accustomed to seeing appears very different. It must be sad to live down south where there is no change of the seasons, no reset button on the routines of our lives.

It's easy for me to say this now because I love snow and I love winter. And because I am invigorated by fresh, crisp winter air, I am more comfortable getting outside for activity in December than in July, thanks to the thick, muggy air we must navigate around here in the summer months.

This was the first major snowfall of 2013, taken on Wednesday, November 27. I typically go for a run along these gorgeous canal lands, but on this particular day, I decided to take it a little slower and bring my camera along for the excursion.

The snow that fell overnight was so thick and damp that it clung to everything it touched. Bare tree branches were adorned with thick, white highlights, giving them a fresh, pristine quality. They stood out like works of art against the darker apartment buildings and churches in the area. Ordinary shrubs were transformed into tidy topiaries and everything from fences to street signs were painted in the cleanest, brightest white.

Not only does the appearance of the thick snow produce a smooth, cohesive environment, but the blanketing effect also absorbs noise. It's more noticeable at night for obvious reasons, but even as I walked along the canal at 9AM, there was barely a sound, even though vehicles were being driven along the Division Street bridge as usual.

I took photos from this location, then walked down to Lincoln Street, and across to the opposite bank, and back to Division Street. It was calming, therapeutic, and stimulating all at the same time, and provided more evidence of how beautiful the city can be.