Christmas

A serene group surrounds Scrooge (Louise Phillips) in the Chemainus Theatre Festival’s A Tiny Christmas Carol. From left: Yasmin D’Oshun, Jay Clift, Emma Slipp and Stephen Thakkar. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Small cast covers large number of roles in A Tiny Christmas Carol

New adaptation of a familiar Dickens classic opens at the Chemainus Theatre

 

Pharmasave Sooke’s Christmas Trees of Wishes is on again to support those in need. You can also get a photo of your child with Santa on Dec. 23 for $10 in support of the Sooke Food Bank. (File - Sooke New Mirror)

In Sooke, Christmas charities shine for those in need

Many businesses and organizations have stepped up with fund-raising initiatives

 

The “eight maids a milking” display is one of a dozen 12 Days of Christmas installations at the Butchart Gardens’ Magic of Christmas. The garden-wide display opens Dec. 1 and runs to Jan. 6. (Black Press Media file photo)

Butchart Garden lights up for the holidays in Central Saanich, Sidney to sparkle with parade

Sidney Sparkles Parade returns Dec. 4, Butchart Gardens lights up Dec. 1

 

Santa Claus will be coming to town on Saturdays and Sundays for Winterfest and Gingerbread Village at the conference centre in downtown Nanaimo until Sunday, Dec. 18. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)

Santa comes to town, heralds start of Winterfest and Gingerbread Village in Nanaimo

Jolly Old St. Nick flies in to Nanaimo waterfront morning of Saturday, Nov. 26

Santa Claus will be coming to town on Saturdays and Sundays for Winterfest and Gingerbread Village at the conference centre in downtown Nanaimo until Sunday, Dec. 18. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)
Oak Bay resident Michael Hardiman reminds others to play it safe while hanging holiday lights after he fell, Saturday, Nov. 12 and returned home from the hospital the next Tuesday with a fractured vertebra. (Courtesy Michael Hardiman)

Oak Bay man with fractured spine warns of dangers in hanging holiday lights

It’s no day at the beach, as partner heads off solo for an already twice-delayed Mexican vacation

Oak Bay resident Michael Hardiman reminds others to play it safe while hanging holiday lights after he fell, Saturday, Nov. 12 and returned home from the hospital the next Tuesday with a fractured vertebra. (Courtesy Michael Hardiman)
Ladysmith’s Festival of Lights began with the Light Up parade Thursday, Nov. 24. (Sean McCue/News Bulletin)

Lights get switched on to start holiday season in Ladysmith

Festival of Lights begins with Light Up night

Ladysmith’s Festival of Lights began with the Light Up parade Thursday, Nov. 24. (Sean McCue/News Bulletin)
Winter festivities in downtown Nanaimo will officially start when Santa Claus’s Harbour Air flight touches down in Nanaimo Harbour on Saturday, Nov. 26. (News Bulletin file photo)

Santa catching float plane flight to Nanaimo Harbour

Santa Claus and elf entourage kick off holiday festivities in downtown Nanaimo

Winter festivities in downtown Nanaimo will officially start when Santa Claus’s Harbour Air flight touches down in Nanaimo Harbour on Saturday, Nov. 26. (News Bulletin file photo)
For the first time since 2019, the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train will make its annual journey through Canada and the U.S. to bring live music and raise holiday spirits across the regions. The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train is shown in this undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Canadian Pacific/Neil Zeller **MANDATORY CREDIT**

CP Holiday Train returns to the rails for the first time in three years

Popular cross-country run will wrap up in Port Coquitlam on Dec. 18

For the first time since 2019, the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train will make its annual journey through Canada and the U.S. to bring live music and raise holiday spirits across the regions. The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train is shown in this undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Canadian Pacific/Neil Zeller **MANDATORY CREDIT**
To the tune of holiday music, an Oak Bay crew posts lights and banners throughout the village, one small step in the significant light display put on the Oak Bay Business Improvement Association each Christmas. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Community Christmas party lights up Oak Bay

11-year-old B.C. Fiddle Champion takes the stage Sunday

To the tune of holiday music, an Oak Bay crew posts lights and banners throughout the village, one small step in the significant light display put on the Oak Bay Business Improvement Association each Christmas. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
The Winter Market and Moss Cottage Christmas return to Sooke Region Museum on Dec. 3. (File - Metro Creative)

Winter Market and Moss Christmas Cottage return to Sooke Region Museum

Visitors can enjoy festive museum grounds and support local artisans

The Winter Market and Moss Cottage Christmas return to Sooke Region Museum on Dec. 3. (File - Metro Creative)
Bev Elder, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank; organizer Catriona McHattie; Mrs. Claus (Alice Howes); Sidney Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith; Carey Salvador, marketing coordinator with the Mary Winspear Centre; Denny Warner, executive director of the Mary Winspear Centre; and Maggie Calder, client services with Mary Winspear Centre, stand outside the centre’s banquet hall, which will host the Christmas Community Dinner Dec. 25. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Sidney’s Community Christmas Dinner serves up holiday cheer

Popular event returns to Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre after two-year hiatus

Bev Elder, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank; organizer Catriona McHattie; Mrs. Claus (Alice Howes); Sidney Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith; Carey Salvador, marketing coordinator with the Mary Winspear Centre; Denny Warner, executive director of the Mary Winspear Centre; and Maggie Calder, client services with Mary Winspear Centre, stand outside the centre’s banquet hall, which will host the Christmas Community Dinner Dec. 25. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Sooke Firefighters’ annual Santa Run is set for DEC. 10, with four trucks moving neighbourhood to neighbourhood to collect donations for the Sooke Food Bank. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke firefighters rescue Christmas for many

Annual Santa Run set for Dec. 10 throughout town

Sooke Firefighters’ annual Santa Run is set for DEC. 10, with four trucks moving neighbourhood to neighbourhood to collect donations for the Sooke Food Bank. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
The Knights of Columbus annual nativity scene atop Terrace City Hall on Dec. 14, 2021. (Ben Bogstie/Terrace Standard)

Nativity scene banned from B.C. town’s city hall after decades-long run

Volunteer group hoping to get Terrace to change its mind after annual tradition rejected

The Knights of Columbus annual nativity scene atop Terrace City Hall on Dec. 14, 2021. (Ben Bogstie/Terrace Standard)
Kenn Whiteman takes a trip down memory lane sorting through his collection of 263 nutcrackers in his dining room. The collection takes up three rooms in his home. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Fine craftsmanship in a nutcracker leads to 45-year obsession for Port Alberni man

‘Nutcracker king’ hopes to find new home for his expansive collection

Kenn Whiteman takes a trip down memory lane sorting through his collection of 263 nutcrackers in his dining room. The collection takes up three rooms in his home. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
A recent survey finds that Canadians will spend an average of $675 this holiday season. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang)

Survey shows Christmas bells will be ringing on store cash registers

One in five Canadians have not paid off last year’s holiday purchases

A recent survey finds that Canadians will spend an average of $675 this holiday season. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang)
Craft fairs are back in full force across Greater Victoria during November and December. (Black Press Media file photo)

Craft Fair Roundup: Festive sales help shoppers get a jump on holiday lists

Locally made goods showcased at Greater Victoria events

Craft fairs are back in full force across Greater Victoria during November and December. (Black Press Media file photo)
Sooke Christmas Craft Fair and Artisan Market set for Nov. 5-6 and Dec. 10-11 at the Sooke Community Hall. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke Christmas craft fairs offer homemade creations

Plenty to choose from as residents seek to fulfil their shopping lists for the holiday season

Sooke Christmas Craft Fair and Artisan Market set for Nov. 5-6 and Dec. 10-11 at the Sooke Community Hall. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
Peppermint Patty, Sally, Charlie Brown, Linus and Snoopy sing and howl together around their Christmas tree at Oak Bay’s Entrance Park, prior to Charlie Brown, Sally and Snoopy going missing in November 2021. Their co-creator Tim Roberts described the community outcry around their eight-month disappearance as heartwarming and exactly the reaction he and his daughter had hoped for. (Photo by Tim Roberts)

Community outcry for Peanuts characters ‘heartwarming,’ creator says

Missing Charlie Brown, Sally and Snoopy not a first for Tim and Meghan Roberts

Peppermint Patty, Sally, Charlie Brown, Linus and Snoopy sing and howl together around their Christmas tree at Oak Bay’s Entrance Park, prior to Charlie Brown, Sally and Snoopy going missing in November 2021. Their co-creator Tim Roberts described the community outcry around their eight-month disappearance as heartwarming and exactly the reaction he and his daughter had hoped for. (Photo by Tim Roberts)
A community effort brought replacement Christmas cut-outs of Charlie Brown, Sally and Snoopy, as well as Lucy, back to Entrance Park last December. A resident recently noticed the original Charlie Brown, Sally and Snoopy cutouts had been returned to the park, notifying municipal staff of the “early Christmas miracle.” (Courtesy of Whitney Davis)

‘Early Christmas miracle’: Missing Peanuts characters returned to Oak Bay home

Charlie Brown, Sally and Snoopy safe and sound after eight months gone

A community effort brought replacement Christmas cut-outs of Charlie Brown, Sally and Snoopy, as well as Lucy, back to Entrance Park last December. A resident recently noticed the original Charlie Brown, Sally and Snoopy cutouts had been returned to the park, notifying municipal staff of the “early Christmas miracle.” (Courtesy of Whitney Davis)
Host Michael Bublé is shown on stage at the Juno Awards in Vancouver, Sunday, March, 25, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Michael Bublé sleighs the Canadian music charts as ‘Christmas’ makes history at No. 1

Christmas only album to reach No. 1 in 5 different calendar years on the Billboard Canadian chart

Host Michael Bublé is shown on stage at the Juno Awards in Vancouver, Sunday, March, 25, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck