Ammaq, escorting a patient from Igloolik, stayed at Baffin House, a patient referral and hospital liaison home for Baffin resident in the city for medical treatment.

During the ice storm, Ammaq, like many others at Baffin House, was forced to stay inside to avoid being hit by falling ice or branches heavily covered in ice all across the city.

But while sitting quietly at the home last week, Ammaq said she couldn't help but think about how much better winter is in the North than in Montreal.

"I'd rather the snow," she said. "I'm more used to snow than rain in winter."

For Rita Akpaliapik of Arctic Bay, who was also in Montreal on referral with her son, Wallace, the weather reminded her of home, especially when temperatures turned cold during the middle of last week.

"The weather is getting cold. It seems like it's North now," said Akpaliapik, who arrived in Montreal on Jan. 5. "It's terrible."

Akpaliapik should have left for home during the storm but a power outage delayed her flight and once the power was restored, her baby, born with a cleft pallet, got sick again.

Sean Layden, a driver for patients at Baffin House stationed himself at the boarding home for more than a week, said he wanted to remain close to the patients as they weathered the storm.

With all the staff at home with their families, patients had to take care of themselves.

Layden said they cooked, cleaned and even chipped away ice built up on the steps. "The patients really helped us out," he said.

As of late last week Montreal residents were dealing with another cold snap, with temperatures dipping as low as -35 C.