When the bitter, cold prairie winter hits, so does the desire to pack your bags and jet-off to a warmer destination. A place where the parkas and snow boots can be swapped for shorts and sandals as a wardrobe staple. Whether you choose to escape the cold with a short weekend getaway or a week-long vacation with family and friends, it’s important to prepare your home for when you are away to ensure you stay stress-free from take-off to landing. Here are some tips to keep in mind prior to your departure:

Winnipeg winters are notorious for being cold, dark and seemingly everlasting. However, one doesn’t need to look far to find a local event, attraction or activity that embraces the coldest season and all that comes with it. One such popular event is, of course, Festival du Voyageur. As a long-standing sponsor of Festival du Voyageur, Qualico Communities annually selects a prominent location to place one of the event’s famous snow sculptures. This year, because of their popularity, we decided to collaborate with local artists to offer not only one but five snow sculptures in our communities. Read more to learn about Oak Bluff West's snow sculpture.

With Winnipeg typically covered in snow for one-third of the year, Winnipeggers are well known for their resiliency in winter. But, have you considered how your home is handling the frigid temperatures?

A new wetland is now under construction in Phase 5 of Oak Bluff West. It will be the communities’ first wetland since 2013. Naturalized wetlands have become key features in Oak Bluff West and their construction is a detailed and timely process.

Today, we’re taking a deeper look into 14 Stone Hearth Lane as Avanti Custom Homes gives us the scoop on some of the most sought-after questions pertaining to designing new homes.