Approaching this as a newbie myself, I'd analyze the needs first. You need to pin down
*the voltage(s) and current that you need
*the number of hours per day you will draw the current
*therefore the amp-hours that you must store in the dead of winter, which I think becomes your design goal.

I'd suggest that you contact a local contractor who installs these things. That person will most likely be used to installing systems that convert the panel output to line voltage (110, 220, or whatever you've got there in Canada), but your most efficient power usage will be DC storage at the required voltage. Charging current regulation will be needed. bcf1963 might have some really good ideas here.

The local contractor will -- well, should -- have a good idea how to derate the solar panels' specs to accommodate weather patterns, dirt accumulation, off-angle output and whatever else might make them less than meet their spec. I don't believe there's much loss of power per square due to your latitude if you mount them normal to the noontime angle of the sun, but if they are stationary, output will peak at noontime and fall off on either side of noon.

Anyone here who has a good idea how closely solar panel output, when aimed correctly, matches the output spec, will help us understand the situation.