Christmas

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
Samantha Knight Weston Family Science program manager for Nature Conservancy Canada, says leaving your Christmas tree in your backyard over the winter can provide many benefits for backyard wildlife. (Submitted photo)

Looking to dispose of your Christmas tree? Try tossing it in the backyard

Backyard decomposition makes for great Christmas tree disposal and biodiversity

Samantha Knight Weston Family Science program manager for Nature Conservancy Canada, says leaving your Christmas tree in your backyard over the winter can provide many benefits for backyard wildlife. (Submitted photo)
Guides delivering supplies L to R: Avery Wilkins, Bruno Pelletier, Jodi Brown, Molly Johnsen, and Caitlin Thomson, and not pictured were Sam Grenier and Dave McBride from Chilliwack River Rafting Adventures. (Suzy Coulter photo)

Christmas Day delivery pulled off by Chilliwack River Rafting guides

‘We were touched and humbled by how willing people were to jump in and help us,’ says CRV resident

Guides delivering supplies L to R: Avery Wilkins, Bruno Pelletier, Jodi Brown, Molly Johnsen, and Caitlin Thomson, and not pictured were Sam Grenier and Dave McBride from Chilliwack River Rafting Adventures. (Suzy Coulter photo)
People cross-country ski at Locarno Beach after an overnight snowfall in Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Dreams of white Christmas come true in Vancouver, while cold grips Prairies

Unusual weather was due to very cold air in the province’s Interior that’s being drawn out to the coast

People cross-country ski at Locarno Beach after an overnight snowfall in Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Catherine Border (left) and her children, Frances and Lucas Border, sort through non-perishable food items donated by residents of the surrounding Gonzales community for distribution by the St. Vincent de Paul Society. (Photo courtesy of Catherine Border)

Victoria siblings experience holiday generosity of neighbours during food drive

Donated non-perishables, cash delivered to St. Vincent de Paul in time for Christmas

Catherine Border (left) and her children, Frances and Lucas Border, sort through non-perishable food items donated by residents of the surrounding Gonzales community for distribution by the St. Vincent de Paul Society. (Photo courtesy of Catherine Border)
In this promotional image provided by ABC TV, Charlie Brown and Linus appear in a scene from “A Charlie Brown Christmas, which ABC will air Dec. 6 and Dec. 16 to commemorate the classic animated cartoon’s 40th anniversary. Do you know when this holiday special first aired? (AP Photo/ABC, 1965 United Feature Syndicate Inc.,File)

QUIZ: How much do you know about Christmas traditions?

Put your knowledge to the test with these 12 questions

In this promotional image provided by ABC TV, Charlie Brown and Linus appear in a scene from “A Charlie Brown Christmas, which ABC will air Dec. 6 and Dec. 16 to commemorate the classic animated cartoon’s 40th anniversary. Do you know when this holiday special first aired? (AP Photo/ABC, 1965 United Feature Syndicate Inc.,File)
Oak bay firefighters, like Aiden Wells, left, and Jason Ahokas, working through the holidays is just part of the job description. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Christmas can still deliver tragedy, so Greater Victoria first responders remain on alert

As many are off and celebrating, first responders still face difficult calls during the holidays

Oak bay firefighters, like Aiden Wells, left, and Jason Ahokas, working through the holidays is just part of the job description. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)