Christmas

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)
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)
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
Terry Campbell’s display of Christmas miniatures takes up the entire dining room of his Chilliwack home. He started the display in 2007 but it has been more challenging for him lately as he’s been legally blind since 2018. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

VIDEO: Legally blind B.C. man builds Christmas display that takes up entire dining room

Terry Campbell lost most of eyesight in 2018, but still adds to miniature Christmas village every year

Terry Campbell’s display of Christmas miniatures takes up the entire dining room of his Chilliwack home. He started the display in 2007 but it has been more challenging for him lately as he’s been legally blind since 2018. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
Prompted by a cancellation, Finning driver Shawn Spain drove around Campbell River's neighbourhoods this weekend. Photo courtesy Jessica Colado

Campbell River truck driver makes Truck Parade still happen — sort of

Mom grateful her boys got to see a piece of what is special about Campbell River’s Holiday season.

Prompted by a cancellation, Finning driver Shawn Spain drove around Campbell River's neighbourhoods this weekend. Photo courtesy Jessica Colado
Police are warning the public about suspicious buyers on the Used Victoria website. (iStock photo)

Police warn of a spate of scams on Used Victoria site

Buyers give cheques for higher amount, asking people to send extra to a different account

Police are warning the public about suspicious buyers on the Used Victoria website. (iStock photo)
The Sooke Firefighters Association’s annual Santa Run is Saturday (Dec. 10) starting at 5 p.m. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

In Sooke, more folks in need of Christmas hampers

Christmas Bureau sees an increase of about 50 requests for hampers

The Sooke Firefighters Association’s annual Santa Run is Saturday (Dec. 10) starting at 5 p.m. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
Langley Trappers, seen here during the previous regular season at George Preston, won’t be asking fans to toss teddy bears this season. Instead, trappers and arena mates Langley Rivermen are asking fans to throw “warmth items” such as blankets, socks, gloves and toques for the homeless. (Langley Advance Times file)

Instead of a teddy bear toss, 2 B.C. hockey teams are asking fans to throw ‘warmth items’ for the homeless

Langley Trappers and Rivermen are asking for socks, gloves, toques and blankets

Langley Trappers, seen here during the previous regular season at George Preston, won’t be asking fans to toss teddy bears this season. Instead, trappers and arena mates Langley Rivermen are asking fans to throw “warmth items” such as blankets, socks, gloves and toques for the homeless. (Langley Advance Times file)
A BC Hydro survey shows more British Columbians are planning to go all out with their Christmas displays this year, but the majority of residents will stick with more minimalist decorations. (Black Press Media file photo)

More ‘mega’ Christmas displays expected this year despite cost concerns: BC Hydro

Lower Mainland residents three times more likely to be mega decorators

A BC Hydro survey shows more British Columbians are planning to go all out with their Christmas displays this year, but the majority of residents will stick with more minimalist decorations. (Black Press Media file photo)
The 2021 Downtown BIA Big Truck Parade. Photo by Sean Feagan / Campbell River Mirror.

Cancellation of Campbell River Big Truck parade a ‘safety first’ decision

BIA executive director ‘disappointed’ after weather cancels event; hopes to bring it back in 2023

The 2021 Downtown BIA Big Truck Parade. Photo by Sean Feagan / Campbell River Mirror.