Christmas

Severe weather such as the heat dome last year and the draught this summer has not only affected Christmas trees this year but will do so in future years . (Pixabay photo)

It’s beginning to look a lot more expensive for a Christmas tree this year

Variety of factors contributing, effect on Islanders will vary depending on where you shop

Severe weather such as the heat dome last year and the draught this summer has not only affected Christmas trees this year but will do so in future years . (Pixabay photo)
Chemainus’ Ken Lavigne has a huge following on the Island. (Photo submitted)

Lavigne generates Christmas spirit with his lone Island show

Chemainus singer returns from Alberta as the headline performer Dec. 9 in Nanaimo

Chemainus’ Ken Lavigne has a huge following on the Island. (Photo submitted)
Turkeys are shown in a pen at Root Down Farm in Pescadero, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Haven Daley)

Turkey shortage ahead of Christmas fuelled by avian flu: BC Poultry Association

‘It’s a terrible time of year for this to have to happen’

Turkeys are shown in a pen at Root Down Farm in Pescadero, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Haven Daley)
Fire trucks from three departments will roll through the communities during the Peninsula Firefighters Food Drive on Dec. 10. (Sidney Volunteer Fire Department/Twitter)

Local firefighters fan out to douse hunger on the Peninsula

Peninsula Firefighters Food Drive takes place Saturday, Dec. 10.

Fire trucks from three departments will roll through the communities during the Peninsula Firefighters Food Drive on Dec. 10. (Sidney Volunteer Fire Department/Twitter)
Volunteers (from left) Adrian D’Silva, Alex Wright, Veronica Carroll, Mike Lukoni and Tracey D’Silva. (Courtesy of the Children’s Health Foundation)

Jeneece Place gets decked out for the holidays

Local couple steps up to spread holiday cheer in View Royal for the 11th Christmas in a row

Volunteers (from left) Adrian D’Silva, Alex Wright, Veronica Carroll, Mike Lukoni and Tracey D’Silva. (Courtesy of the Children’s Health Foundation)
Geoff Cram, co-owner of the Old Town Bakery in Ladysmith, shows this year’s gingerbread creation in the front window of the bakery. (Duck Paterson photo)

Ladysmith bakery’s gingerbread creations attract attention

Geoff Cram of the Old Town Bakery creates gingerbread bakery to celebrate business’ 20th anniversary

  • Dec 2, 2022
Geoff Cram, co-owner of the Old Town Bakery in Ladysmith, shows this year’s gingerbread creation in the front window of the bakery. (Duck Paterson photo)
Phoebe the pup gets a lift from her owner during Christmas Kick-off in downtown Duncan Friday evening, Nov. 25. The event was well attended and officially kicked off the season in the city. Check out more from the event on page 30. (Sarah Simpson/Citizen)

Christmas Kick-off packs Duncan

Event back full-force

Phoebe the pup gets a lift from her owner during Christmas Kick-off in downtown Duncan Friday evening, Nov. 25. The event was well attended and officially kicked off the season in the city. Check out more from the event on page 30. (Sarah Simpson/Citizen)
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

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)
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

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)
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

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)
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)