Canadians revel in major snow storm [Video]

Many schools and shops were shuttered across eastern Canada, flights were delayed, and driving was treacherous on Thursday, but Canadians revelled in a major snow storm.

“I love it,” Montreal resident Caroline Hervochon told AFP.

“It’s been a long time since we had a big snowfall like that. I really like it. People are super happy. It’s so beautiful,” she said. “It really feels good.”

A winter storm started blanketing the capital Ottawa Wednesday evening, as well as major cities Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City.

It brought a “significant snowfall,” or up to 30 centimeters (one foot) of snow overnight Wednesday to Thursday, according to Canada’s weather service.

And another 40 cm of snow was forecast for the next 24 hours, with wind gusts of up to 80 kilometers (50 miles) per hour causing blowing snow and limiting visibility.

Airlines cancelled or delayed flights at Canada’s largest airport in Toronto.

Across the region, hundreds and hundreds of snow ploughs …