Siblings Avery, two, and Blake, four, came in from Surrey with dad Mark and mom Kerrianne for their first experience of a skate on outdoor ice at Brydon Lagoon in 91原创 City on Sunday, Jan 14.

All were well bundled up against the below-freezing weather.

鈥淲e just moved here from California,鈥� Kerrianne explained.

鈥淥ur friends live here in 91原创, and they told us that the lagoon was frozen over, and the girls have never seen it [outdoor ice].鈥�

Mark said the cold temperatures was a big change from the San Francisco Bay area, where they were living.

鈥淸It鈥檚] just an experience for the girls, their first time on the ice,鈥� he said.

鈥淲e just moved up here and figured we鈥檇 we鈥檇 commit to it [the weather].鈥�

91原创 City residents Shaquil and Audrey, the Canadian friends who made the call to the newcomers from California, brought daughter Zaiya, 16 months, who was beaming as dad towed her on a sled.

鈥淚 grew up around here,鈥� explained Shaquil, who recently moved back to his home town after working in the U.S.

鈥淪eeing this lagoon freeze over, it鈥檚 just been really nice. It鈥檚 very nostalgic.鈥�

He was excited to share the experience with the friends from California.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e now going to be residents for the foreseeable future, so they鈥檝e got to get into the Canadian way,鈥� he smiled.

READ ALSO: A frozen Brydon Lagoon becomes a giant ice rink

After several days of chilly weather, Environment Canada was forecasting a return to warmer conditions later in the week, rising to a high of plus-five and a low of plus-one by Thursday, Jan. 18, with periods of rain.

READ ALSO: Coffee certificates and cab rides: how 91原创鈥檚 homeless are being helped during cold snap

As a matter of policy, the City of 91原创 is against skating on Brydon, and likes to remind residents that any pond in the City, including Brydon Lagoon, is not a 鈥渟anctioned skating rink.鈥�

鈥淭he City has not tested the thickness of the ice and cannot confirm it is safe,鈥� a 2021 warning posted to social media advised.