This year has been one of the driest winters in a long time. I think Toronoto or Southern Ontario got more snowfall overall than us. October was fairly dry, I do recall Halloween, it was pretty dry, ussually its wet and slushy for the the kids. Then we had some cold but that wasn't that bad compared to previous years, also we had rain in Nov/Dec then snow. So I don't think the frost is as bad as it has been in the past. I have tulips in the flower garden and they are beginning to sprout which is an indication that spring is here, there are also some green patches, (new growth) on my lawn. March was one of driest for percipitation on record so I think spring will not be as intense as previous years. Southern Ontario has had a worse spring,(snow/rain/floods) so far than we have. I'm sure the Beardmore area is similiar to here, they may have gotten more snow than Thunder Bay because they are on the snow belt, but temp wise I think their similiar to us. Put it this way, I did not plug my car in this winter where on a normal winter I would be plugging 20 or 30 times a winter. Spring comes fast here so even if there is snow, (in the bush) it will melt and evaporate pretty fast. Today it's lovely, warm, slight gust and high UV's from the sun! Sorry about the rambling but hope it helps. Cheers! Jokal