Some Calgarians mourn disappearance of winter during spring-like warmth

As billions tune in to watch the Winter Olympics kick off in Italy, some Calgarians are feeling a different kind of emotion, nostalgia for a “real” Canadian winter that seems to be slipping away.

With temperatures soaring into the mid‑teens and barely a trace of snow on the ground, Calgary’s February looks more like early spring than the backdrop to a global winter spectacle.

At least one local golf course is opening up during a very warm stretch in February. Scott Haswell, the head pro at Wingfield Golf Club, says they’ll stay open as long as the weather stays dry.

But for the city’s winter warriors, the warm spell is more than an inconvenience; it’s a loss.

“It’s not just a three‑day chinook,” said Brady Atkins. “We’re continuously losing that cold of a traditional Calgary winter.”

For seven years, he’s volunteered as a rink‑builder for the Beddington Heights Community Association, a labour of love that depends entirely on sub‑zero temperatures. But lately, he says, the ice won’t hold.

“I’ve got to put on my winter jacket and snow pants, head out, start shovelling and get the hose turned on,” he said. “It’s a lot of work to build this ice up, and it seems like every year it gets harder and harder.”

Last winter, Atkins counted fewer than 25 days cold enough to keep the rink skateable. This year, he fears that number will shrink even further.

“Cross-country skiing courses melt away, and downhill slopes are a lot tougher to find those good powder days on,” Atkins said.

But not every winter sport is suffering. At WinSport, where Calgary’s Olympic legacy still lives on, technology is filling the gaps left by Mother Nature.

“About 97 per cent of our snow is manmade,” said WinSport spokesperson Dale Oviatt. “The technology has improved so much over the years that we can make snow at a normal temperature.”

Oviatt says they produce enough snow before Christmas to last through the season, which this year runs until March 29, though he admits the weather still has the final say.

Ironically, he remembers similar conditions during Calgary’s own Olympic moment in 1988.

“The weather was causing havoc because it was too warm and certain events had to be postponed,” he said.

Environment Canada is forecasting double‑digit highs through Saturday, with a slightly cooler 8 C expected Sunday. The forecast and current conditions can be found here.