Winter Wellness Newsletter
Do you find yourself dreading winter and counting down the days until spring? You’re not alone.
According to the CMHA, about 3% of Canadians will experience Seasonal Affective Disorder, and another 15% report milder drops in mood during the winter months. For newcomers to Ottawa, these effects can be even stronger — especially when winter is unfamiliar and social supports are still forming.
While we can’t control the seasons, we can change how we respond to them. This guide brings together research-backed strategies to support physical, social, emotional, and environmental wellness during winter. Our goal is to help you feel more grounded, connected, and optimistic — even in the coldest months.
Welcome to our newsletter about all things Winter!
Each section blends the science of wellbeing with some practical tips and fun activities meant to support your physical energy, emotional balance, social connection, and environmental comfort during the colder months. Expect curated research insights and a little winter joy along the way
Conversation Spotlight! On Indigeneity & Winter Connection
Danielle Printup
Indigenous Cultural Engagement Coordinator
Carleton University Art Gallery
Dani Printup (she/her) is a Hodinohso:ni (Onondaga) / Anishinaabe (Algonquin) arts worker and curator from Kitigan Zibi Anishnabeg, QC, with maternal roots in Ohsweken, ON. She has a Bachelor of Honors in Art History from the University of Guelph (2012). She has interned at the National Gallery of Canada and completed the RBC Indigenous Training Program in Museum Practices at the Canadian Museum of History. She has worked at Galerie SAW Gallery, the Indigenous Art Centre and the City of Ottawa’s Public Art Program. She currently works as the Indigenous Cultural Engagement Coordinator at Carleton University Art Gallery.