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Calgary’s cold snap a boost or a bust for businesses: ‘Worst February in 20 years’

Beatrice Langlois and her daughter Mia enjoying escaping the cold at an indoor playground in Calgary. Gil Tucker/Global News

For many Calgary parents, the city’s lingering cold snap makes keeping young children occupied a real challenge.

“The kids will go nuts watching TV all day,” parent Beatrice Langlois said. “I don’t want to take them to the park. Too cold!”

And that’s bringing a big boost in business for indoor play places.

“When the weather gets cold our business goes up,” Treehouse Indoor Playground’s Joseph Kwon said. “Compared to the other months, the winter time is a really busy time for us. There are not too many things to do when it’s extremely cold like this.”

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One thing Calgarians are definitely not doing is braving the weather along pedestrian shopping streets, like 9 Avenue SE in the Inglewood neighbourhood.

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“This is the worst February I think we’ve ever had in 20 years,” Artesan Galleria’s Wendy Bach said. “We’ve just never had a cold snap this long and this cold before, so it’s pretty lean and mean this week. Hopefully, people will get used to this cold snap and come on out and see us again.”

Business is heating up at many pizza places, which is a real bonus for the people who make the deliveries.

George Galanis, who delivers for Ingelwood Pizza, is certainly busier than usual and enjoying getting bigger than normal tips.

“I like it,” Galanis said. “People tipping on those [cold] days, you know, it’s cold weather, they feel sorry for me.”

WATCH: Calgary cold snap gets dogs trying indoor puzzles

Click to play video: 'Calgary cold snap gets dogs trying indoor puzzles'
Calgary cold snap gets dogs trying indoor puzzles

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