Canada Goose Changed My Life

No, I’m not being hyperbolic. Promise. Living in one of the coldest countries in the world – where “polar vortex” has become the phrase of the year – can be harsh and incredibly depressing. So if there’s anything, and I mean ANYTHING, that can make our long winters more bearable I am willing to give it a try. A few years ago, I invested in a Canada Goose Whistler Parka that truly changed my life. How? It kept me warm and dry so I could get outside and explore to my hearts content. It turns out, embracing the Canadian winter (instead of fighting it) is the key to my happiness…

It’s incredible how liberating something as simple as a jacket can actually be. And how much it can alter the way you spend 4-6 months of your life each year! I quickly learned that dressing in proper gear was absolutely essential in my enjoyment of all-things-winter. My parka became my winter uniform; I took it everywhere with me. I was in love. So you could imagine how thrilled I was when Canada Goose sent me a Montebello Parka this year just in time for my press trip to Montreal. The hip-length jacket was perfect for all the skating, snowshoeing and sledding we had on our itinerary.

As a proud owner of two Canada Goose jackets, I started sharing the love. Not only online, but literally! Canada Goose is not a cheap product, so before my friends and family invested in the jackets, I wanted them to try mine out to make sure they’re just as excited about it. First, my photog sported the Whistler Parka in Montreal:

And then my mom gave it a shot on my press trip to K-W (the ultimate test since she’s incredibly honest and we spent the day outside in the snow belt):

Throughout the winter, my friends and fam took my parka out for a test run and one-by-one they fell in love. There’s a reason why scientists, film crews, bouncers, news anchors, adventurers and all those who spend countless hours outside in the cold sport these jackets! So, to any of you who are even considering getting a jacket to shield you from our unforgiving winters, I have one piece of advice: buy a parka from the Arctic Program Collection and you’ll be over the moon. Their jackets truly changed my life.

Some facts to consider before the big buy:

• Founded over 50 years ago in a small warehouse in Toronto, Canada Goose has kept 100% of their production in Canada.
• The coats are hand stitched, water resistant and extremely durable. Oh, and they’re fully warranted.
• Canada Goose uses coyote fur around the hoods on their jackets. Why? It never freezes, doesn’t hold water and it protects exposed skin. They work with coyote fur because it’s abundant and they only purchase fur from certified Canadian trappers (who are strictly regulated by the provincial and territorial wildlife departments in Canada).
• Not every jacket offers the same amount of warmth. They’ve developed an index (TEI) to help you find the right jacket. It’s a five-point system that ranges from lightweight products (good for temps ranging from -5C to 5C) to extreme products (that will protect you in -30C temps). It’s also good to note that everyone experiences temperature differently. So if your friend is cozy in a particular jacket, it doesn’t mean it’ll provide enough warmth for you!

And some tips:

• If you want to choose from a large selection of jackets in stores, try to buy your jacket before the first big snow storm of the year. I actually bought my parka in July!
• It takes a bit of time to get accustomed to your jacket: you lose some of your peripheral vision when your hood is up! You’ll get used to the “body turn” in no time.
• For those having a hard time stomaching the cost of Canada Goose parkas, think of it this way: you likely spend way more money on coffee/tea during the winter. Do yourself a favour: put $10 away each week and buy yourself some warmth and freedom next year.
• Oh, and make sure you buy Canada Goose products from a licensed retailer. I can not stress this enough. Many of my friends have purchased jackets from stores they thought were legit, but ended up freezing because they were counterfeit.

Canada Goose sent me a Montebello Parka along with some accessories as a part of a campaign. As always, all reviews and opinions are entirely my own.