The Great Outdoor Depression

December 16th, 2002, Canada. -15 degrees Celsius, snow billowing with the strong, cold, piercing wind. In theory, indoors is the place to be, enjoying a warm hot chocolate by a crispy fireplace. The suburban streets of Mississauga, however, are full of children not only braving the harsh climate, but enjoying it. There are dozens of street hockey games, snowball fights, tobogganing, driveway shoveling, and the characteristic mother yelling for their children to come inside. This is the classic Canadian winter that is reflected in the back of the iconic five-dollar bill. Whatever the weather, be it rain, sun, wind, snow, the kids were out to play.

Fast-forward to present day, where milder winters do not reflect what should be the scene on these same streets. The streets are barren, few street hockey games litter rare pockets of the city. What has happened to  the endless joy that accompanied with "playing outside"? It is technology? Changing habits of parents? It seems that as the youth of today are not enchanted with the idea of leaving the home to explore the neighborhood and make friends with one another as they used to be.

I just hope that future generations will take up the Canadian spirit, because we are in a state of a great outdoor depression.

- North of the Border

It is wonderful to feel the grandness of Canada in the raw, not because she is Canada but because she's something sublime that you were born into, some great rugged power that you are a part of. (Emily Carr)

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**Picture taken from Mind Care New Brunswick Webpage