Getting around in snowy Canada

We live in Canada.
It snows.

This year may have given us more snow than we've had in a long time, but snow is expected in the winter.

 

The snow might look really nice and it might be nice to have a snowy winter, but three month snow and snow and snow and get a little tired. If you also add a child who doesn't like the cold and uses a wheelchair and a walker that is difficult navigate in the snow... Then it takes a lot of fun of the winter the end up staying home a lot more than you thought that you would.
Nick doesn't like sitting on the snow or staying still, he gets cold

The picture of Nick inside breaks my  heart a little... But he wanted to go inside, he DOES NOT like the cold. He just wanted his sister to come inside as well.

Even if it hasn't snowed for a couple of days, and thinking of going for a walk outside (even to get to a destination and not drive). This is what you find

Not in front of all the houses, but in front of enough of them. So to walk to the bus-stop (at the top of our street) or go and pick up out mail with Nick, means that we would walk on the road, or drive. Or in the case of going on a short trip with the daycare group - calling a cab (Thanks Jen).
Playing in our backyard? Snow is too deep for any kind of wheels, he can walk with us holding him, or crawl through the snow, or be pulled in a sled.

I know it sounds like I'm complaining. I am.
I really don't mind the snow and the cold. But if I'm working on Nick being independent in whatever form he wants, then the snow does not make it easy.
This is how Nick spends most of his time playing in the snow with us. Sitting down (no wonder he gets cold)

But all the snow comes with accessibility issues.
Parking spots with snow in them (or snow covering the accessible spot so you can't get a chair beside the door), ramps covered in snow or entrances to the ramp not shoveled. Even without snow, there is still ice to worry about. Either the ice that will make Nick slip, or I will slip carrying Nick (always a possibility because I am a klutz).

A lot of our activities have been planned and driven to. We drive to daycare and back every day this winter, even if it is one street over.

There was a quote I heard (that I can't find anywhere) about a father who said he looked out his window every morning to see if his daughter (in a wheelchair) could go outside or not.

It kind of feels like I'm using the snow as an excuse. There are winter things Nick can do. I only need to watch the Paralympics for inspiration. I just need to put the extra effort into finding what works for him.
I'm not really sure what the purpose of this blog post is. Complain about all the snow? Wish for spring and summer? It's March, the snow has to melt sometime right?