5 of Vancouver’s Most Popular Winter Activities

Katherine Martin • February 18, 2016

Skiing & Snowboarding (Not Included)

Do you live in or near Vancouver? Are you an outdoors lover, minus the whole skiing and snowboarding thing? Are you wondering how to spend your free time during the long, dreary winter months? Well, wonder no longer! The following are five non-skiing/snowboarding adventures that will get you outside and near (but not on) the slopes this winter…exactly where you want to be:

Ice skating (Robson Square)

Got the ice skating bug? If so, you have options. You could fire up your classic Nintendo and play some Blades of Steel (truly a classic of our time). Additionally, you could retrieve and play your copy of Blades of Glory, starring Will Ferrell. However, provided these excellent, albeit lazy, options don’t satisfy- if you simply must have the real thing, then look no further than the ice rink and plaza at Robson Square (sponsored and maintained by the Government of British Columbia).

This popular family attraction opens on December 1st of each year, and boasts extended holiday hours (closing for good at the end of February). Skating is free (which is a rarity these days) provided you bring your own skates. Otherwise the skate rental, with rental helmet included (safety first!), will set you back $4.00. A great deal by any standard.

This winter adventure, for which you don’t even need to leave the city, is fun for the whole family! It’s an afternoon complete with rosy cheeks, hot chocolate (fresh from the on-site concession stand) and a whole lot of laughs.

Snow Tubing (Grouse/Cypress/Whistler)

Rated a “2” out of “5” on the adventure scale, but a “5” out of “5” on the fun scale, we find snow tubing. This is a popular winter option across this great country of ours; however, the west, (according to many) does it best, with superbly maintained runs at some of the most well known mountains to grace the known landscape. Here are three options:

Squamish (Sea to Sky Gondola)
It’ll cost you five bucks to use the tubing hill in addition to $12 to $34 (depending on your age) for a gondola ticket, but the thrill is there, if you want it!

Cypress Mountain
Located a mere hop, skip and a jump from Vancouver proper, Cypress Mountain boasts six “tube shoots” from which to choose, varying in extremes from: your grandma’s tubing hill to “strap in and hold on tight”. The choice is truly yours.

Mount Seymour
The cost at this hill is a little steeper than the others (coming in at between $20 and $22 for two hours), but the fun, for many, is worth the price of admission. Also, Seymour includes a “tube tow”, so depending on who you are, an easy ride back to the top may very well be worth the extra few dollars. There is a sliding hill at this location as well, but this also costs a pretty penny- $10 is the standard rate, here, no time restrictions.

Snowshoeing

Continuing on our winter activities tour (minus the skiing and snowboarding), we come upon the sport (?) of snowshoeing. This is a touch more adventurous than snow tubing in addition to being a load more physically taxing, but the rewards: that of finding yourself in the great outdoors while clocking valuable exercise, are worth it to many snowshoe junkies. “Official” trails are available at most of the major ski hills (Cypress, Grouse, Seymour, Whistler, and Blackcomb) in addition to free trails in and throughout the lower mainland.

Cross Country Skiing (Cypress/Whistler’s Olympic Park)

Combine the physicality of snowshoeing with a heightened level of skill, and what do you get? That’s right…cross country skiing. Of note here, Cypress Mountain includes several kilometres of groomed trails complete with stunning views of the surrounding landscape, and delicious meals at their lodge. Additionally, if you don’t mind driving the extra distance, Whistler’s Olympic Park is a state of the art, cross country skiing heaven.

Visit Vancouver Island

Finally, I’d be remissed if I didn’t mention the beauty that is Vancouver Island. When the January/February doldrums hit, what better than cross the channel into green grass, rain forests, surfing and hiking. BC Ferries terminals in Tsawwassen and Departure Bay give quick access to this mid-winter hideaway. It’s like winter never existed.

Katherine Martin


Origin Mortgages

Phone: 1-604-454-0843
Email: kmartin@planmymortgage.ca
Fax: 1-604-454-0842


RECENT POSTS

Start Smart: Get Pre-Approved for Your Mortgage

By Katherine Martin • November 19, 2025
Thinking of Buying a Home? Here’s Why Getting Pre-Approved Is Key If you’re ready to buy a home but aren’t sure where to begin, the answer is simple: start with a pre-approval. It’s one of the most important first steps in your home-buying journey—and here's why. Why a Pre-Approval is Crucial Imagine walking into a restaurant, hungry and excited to order, but unsure if your credit card will cover the bill. It’s the same situation with buying a home. You can browse listings online all day, but until you know how much you can afford, you’re just window shopping. Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is like finding out the price range you can comfortably shop within before you start looking at homes with a real estate agent. It sets you up for success and saves you from wasting time on properties that might be out of reach. What Exactly is a Pre-Approval? A pre-approval isn’t a guarantee. It’s not a promise that a lender will give you a mortgage no matter what happens with your finances. It’s more like a preview of your financial health, giving you a clear idea of how much you can borrow, based on the information you provide at the time. Think of it as a roadmap. After going through the pre-approval process, you’ll have a much clearer picture of what you can afford and what you need to do to make the final approval process smoother. What Happens During the Pre-Approval Process? When you apply for a pre-approval, lenders will look at a few key areas: Your income Your credit history Your assets and liabilities The property you’re interested in This comprehensive review will uncover any potential hurdles that could prevent you from securing financing later on. The earlier you identify these challenges, the better. Potential Issues a Pre-Approval Can Reveal Even if you feel confident that your finances are in good shape, a pre-approval might uncover issues you didn’t expect: Recent job changes or probation periods An income that’s heavily commission-based or reliant on extra shifts Errors or collections on your credit report Lack of a well-established credit history Insufficient funds saved for a down payment Existing debt reducing your qualification amount Any other financial blind spots you might not be aware of By addressing these issues early, you give yourself the best chance of securing the mortgage you need. A pre-approval makes sure there are no surprises along the way. Pre-Approval vs. Pre-Qualification: What’s the Difference? It’s important to understand that a pre-approval is more than just a quick online estimate. Unlike pre-qualification—which can sometimes be based on limited information and calculations—a pre-approval involves a thorough review of your finances. This includes looking at your credit report, providing detailed documents, and having a conversation with a mortgage professional about your options. Why Get Pre-Approved Now? The best time to secure a pre-approval is as soon as possible. The process is free and carries no risk—it just gives you a clear path forward. It’s never too early to start, and by doing so, you’ll be in a much stronger position when you're ready to make an offer on your dream home. Let’s Make Your Home Buying Journey Smooth A well-planned mortgage process can make all the difference in securing your home. If you’re ready to get pre-approved or just want to chat about your options, I’d love to help. Let’s make your home-buying experience a smooth and successful one!

Mortgage Approval 101: GDS & TDS Explained

By Katherine Martin • November 12, 2025
Can You Afford That Mortgage? Let’s Talk About Debt Service Ratios One of the biggest factors lenders look at when deciding whether you qualify for a mortgage is something called your debt service ratios. It’s a financial check-up to make sure you can handle the payments—not just for your new home, but for everything else you owe as well. If you’d rather skip the math and have someone walk through this with you, that’s what I’m here for. But if you like to understand how things work behind the scenes, keep reading. We’re going to break down what these ratios are, how to calculate them, and why they matter when it comes to getting approved. What Are Debt Service Ratios? Debt service ratios measure your ability to manage your financial obligations based on your income. There are two key ratios lenders care about: Gross Debt Service (GDS) This looks at the percentage of your income that would go toward housing expenses only. 2. Total Debt Service (TDS) This includes your housing costs plus all other debt payments—car loans, credit cards, student loans, support payments, etc. How to Calculate GDS and TDS Let’s break down the formulas. GDS Formula: (P + I + T + H + Condo Fees*) ÷ Gross Monthly Income Where: P = Principal I = Interest T = Property Taxes H = Heat Condo fees are usually calculated at 50% of the total amount TDS Formula: (GDS + Monthly Debt Payments) ÷ Gross Monthly Income These ratios tell lenders if your budget is already stretched too thin—or if you’ve got room to safely take on a mortgage. How High Is Too High? Most lenders follow maximum thresholds, especially for insured (high-ratio) mortgages. As of now, those limits are typically: GDS: Max 39% TDS: Max 44% Go above those numbers and your application could be declined, regardless of how confident you feel about your ability to manage the payments. Real-World Example Let’s say you’re earning $90,000 a year, or $7,500 a month. You find a home you love, and the monthly housing costs (mortgage payment, property tax, heat) total $1,700/month. GDS = $1,700 ÷ $7,500 = 22.7% You’re well under the 39% cap—so far, so good. Now factor in your other monthly obligations: Car loan: $300 Child support: $500 Credit card/line of credit payments: $700 Total other debt = $1,500/month Now add that to the $1,700 in housing costs: TDS = $3,200 ÷ $7,500 = 42.7% Uh oh. Even though your GDS looks great, your TDS is just over the 42% limit. That could put your mortgage approval at risk—even if you’re paying similar or higher rent now. What Can You Do? In cases like this, small adjustments can make a big difference: Consolidate or restructure your debts to lower monthly payments Reallocate part of your down payment to reduce high-interest debt Add a co-applicant to increase qualifying income Wait and build savings or credit strength before applying This is where working with an experienced mortgage professional pays off. We can look at your entire financial picture and help you make strategic moves to qualify confidently. Don’t Leave It to Chance Everyone’s situation is different, and debt service ratios aren’t something you want to guess at. The earlier you start the conversation, the more time you’ll have to improve your numbers and boost your chances of approval. If you're wondering how much home you can afford—or want help analyzing your own GDS and TDS—let’s connect. I’d be happy to walk through your numbers and help you build a solid mortgage strategy.
© 2025 

Katherine Martin. All Rights Reserved.