Bottom line is:
Weather-related delay.

You're really just at the mercy of the airlines, since their responsibilities are minimal in those circumstances. I'd have probably taken the next-day offer from WestJet and coughed up the money for a hotel. Maybe you would've been able to standby for an earlier flight during your 12 hour layover. If you had something business-related that was so pressing you had to be back on schedule, I'd ask your employer to cover the costs. If you had personal issues (kids) that required you to return that day, you'll just have to eat the hotel cost. But a hotel for one night would've been way cheaper than what you did.