Christmas

An RCMP officer came to the rescue of two children stranded at Kelowna International Airport (YLW) on Christmas Eve. (Black Press file photo)

Constable Claus saves Christmas for kids stranded at Kelowna Airport

The 12 and 13-year-olds were trying to make it home to Victoria for Christmas from Alberta

 

Brendon Moore celebrates after winning his race during the final race night at the Westshore Motorsports Park Saturday, Sept. 17, as the track shuts down permanently. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

The Goldstream Gazette’s most-read stories from 2022

In 2022, helping hands flew meds and pizza to sexy town while cars circuited tracks & secret campsites

 

(Black Press Media Creative)

Christmas tree recycling is a good alternative to landfills

Taking down the Christmas tree is only one task after the holiday…

 

Victoria International Airport air traffic control unit operations specialist Jason Grist watches over the runway on Thursday, Dec. 15. For those who work inside the control tower, Christmas is just another day at the office. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

YYJ’s holiday heroes work around the clock to keep planes safe

Christmas is just another day at the office for the folks at Victoria International Airport

Victoria International Airport air traffic control unit operations specialist Jason Grist watches over the runway on Thursday, Dec. 15. For those who work inside the control tower, Christmas is just another day at the office. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Santa Claus can be seen in many places at this time of year. (Pixabay.com)

QUIZ: How much do you know about Christmas traditions?

There are plenty of celebrations and customs on Dec. 25.

Santa Claus can be seen in many places at this time of year. (Pixabay.com)
(Black Press Media Elves)

NORAD Tracks Santa live: Follow St. Nick as he delivers presents around the world this Christmas Eve

Rest assured, kids of all ages: Santa’s coming this Christmas Eve. That’s…

(Black Press Media Elves)
Baking is a big part of Christmas traditions for some. On the left are Teresa Ackroyd’s gingerbread cookies and on the right is Angela Ferguson’s monkey bread. (Courtesy of Teresa Ackroyd/Angela Ferguson)

West Shore families putting new spins on old Christmas traditions

Welcome to the magic of monkeybread

Baking is a big part of Christmas traditions for some. On the left are Teresa Ackroyd’s gingerbread cookies and on the right is Angela Ferguson’s monkey bread. (Courtesy of Teresa Ackroyd/Angela Ferguson)
The SOS Toy Shop welcomes parents, caregivers, grandparents and great-grandparents who need help getting gifts for their young family members. The gifts are donated by the community. (Submitted photo)

Island woman deals with challenges of facing Christmas at age 86 with one income

Access to SOS Caring for Community at Christmas program provides relief

The SOS Toy Shop welcomes parents, caregivers, grandparents and great-grandparents who need help getting gifts for their young family members. The gifts are donated by the community. (Submitted photo)
The Happy Christmas Tree Co. selling trees off the Luxton Fairgrounds just didn’t see the shopping traffic this year and now has 300 trees left when they should be sold out. (Happy Christmas Tree Co./Facebook)

‘Heartbreaking’: 300 fresh-cut B.C. Christmas trees need homes for the holidays

Sales down 37 per cent for West Shore family business

The Happy Christmas Tree Co. selling trees off the Luxton Fairgrounds just didn’t see the shopping traffic this year and now has 300 trees left when they should be sold out. (Happy Christmas Tree Co./Facebook)
Road closed

B.C’s Coquihalla closed between Hope and Merritt

Crash has major route shut down overnight

Road closed
Members of the Peninsula Players, seen here at rehearsals, will perform Alice in Pantoland at Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre starting Dec. 23 through Dec. 30, with the cast taking a rest on Dec. 25 and Dec. 28. (Peninsula Players/Submitted)

Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre hosts seasonal take on Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Pantoland recognizes tradition of Pantomime at Christmas time

Members of the Peninsula Players, seen here at rehearsals, will perform Alice in Pantoland at Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre starting Dec. 23 through Dec. 30, with the cast taking a rest on Dec. 25 and Dec. 28. (Peninsula Players/Submitted)
Tyson Elder, operations manager of the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank, accepts one of the first boxes of donated food collected by Sidney Volunteer Fire Department from deputy chief Mike Harman Monday morning. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Records broken by Peninsula Firefighters Food Drive

Sidney breaks cash donation goal, while North Saanich increases food collection by 50 per cent

Tyson Elder, operations manager of the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank, accepts one of the first boxes of donated food collected by Sidney Volunteer Fire Department from deputy chief Mike Harman Monday morning. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Jessica Peters is a reporter at the Abbotsford News and a big fan of Father Christmas.

COLUMN: The magic of Christmas isn’t so unbelievable, is it?

A deep adoration of Santa Claus and everything he represents has led to a life of loving Christmas

Jessica Peters is a reporter at the Abbotsford News and a big fan of Father Christmas.
Michael Preston will listen to the same song for 14 hours to help raise money for the World Food Programme on Dec. 21. (Brentwood School of Music/Submitted)

Central Saanich teacher to listen to same song for 14 hours to raise money

Michael Preston of Brentwood School of Music sacrificing to help end global hunger

Michael Preston will listen to the same song for 14 hours to help raise money for the World Food Programme on Dec. 21. (Brentwood School of Music/Submitted)
Kindergartener Lucille McKenzie and her Grade 7 buddy Eliza Gedischk build tiny bundles of candy with a warm message during the years-old tradition of Christmas Cracker Day at St. Patrick’s School. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Kids craft Christmas crackers for those facing homelessness in Greater Victoria

Students start by donating Halloween candy in November

Kindergartener Lucille McKenzie and her Grade 7 buddy Eliza Gedischk build tiny bundles of candy with a warm message during the years-old tradition of Christmas Cracker Day at St. Patrick’s School. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Zero Waste Sooke hosts a demonstration on Furoshiki – the ancient Japanese art of cloth gift wrapping – at the Sooke library on Sunday (Dec. 18) from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. (Shutterstock.com)

You can wrap Christmas gifts more cheaply and with less waste

Zero Waste Sooke hosts demonstration on Sunday

  • Dec 12, 2022
Zero Waste Sooke hosts a demonstration on Furoshiki – the ancient Japanese art of cloth gift wrapping – at the Sooke library on Sunday (Dec. 18) from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. (Shutterstock.com)
Adopt-a-Grandparent founder Breanna Brosko is pictured with the Christmas tree adorned with tags at Jo Klassen’s Restaurant in Courtenay. Scott Stanfield photo

Adopt-a-Grandparent Comox Valley continues to roll

Program woman started as a teenager has grown to more than 3 times its original size

Adopt-a-Grandparent founder Breanna Brosko is pictured with the Christmas tree adorned with tags at Jo Klassen’s Restaurant in Courtenay. Scott Stanfield photo
Firefighters of Greater Victoria use their latest calendar as a venue to highlight how members cope with the cumulative stress of being first responders. (Saanich Firefighter Charitable/Facebook)

Greater Victoria calendar sales inspire mental health, help hospice

Greater Victoria firefighters calendar sales support the Victoria Hospitals Foundation

Firefighters of Greater Victoria use their latest calendar as a venue to highlight how members cope with the cumulative stress of being first responders. (Saanich Firefighter Charitable/Facebook)
In a case of the Grinch who stole Christmas, local bandits have made off with ornaments and Christmas lawn decorations on a home on Doll Varden Road. File Photo

Police looking probe case of Christmas ornaments swiped from Island yard

Campbell River Grinch appears to have made off with ornaments, lawn decorations

  • Dec 11, 2022
In a case of the Grinch who stole Christmas, local bandits have made off with ornaments and Christmas lawn decorations on a home on Doll Varden Road. File Photo
A parcel of land on the Sahtlam Tree Farm is seen, in the Cowichan Valley area of Duncan, B.C., on Saturday, July 31, 2021. The effects of climate change are taking a toll on Christmas tree farms in British Columbia and beyond, and one forestry expert says the sector that’s already shrinking will need to adapt in the coming years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Climate change affecting Christmas trees in B.C. and beyond: expert

Drought, extreme heat making it difficult for seedlings to grow

A parcel of land on the Sahtlam Tree Farm is seen, in the Cowichan Valley area of Duncan, B.C., on Saturday, July 31, 2021. The effects of climate change are taking a toll on Christmas tree farms in British Columbia and beyond, and one forestry expert says the sector that’s already shrinking will need to adapt in the coming years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito