Christmas

A Lark Sparrow was spotted on Opal Street in Williams Lake during this year’s Christmas Bird Count, which is unusual for a bird normally wintering in much warmer climes and only the third one counted in Canada. (Phil Ransom photo)

Williams Lake Christmas Bird Count results sees first-ever sighting for the lakecity

It was challenging and rewarding for this year’s birders

  • Jan 9, 2022

 

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

 

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

 

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
The late Doreen Haines and her daughter, Marnie Haines Howell. (Photo submitted) The late Doreen Haines and her daughter, Marnie Haines Howell. (Photo submitted)

Season’s Greetings: Sweetest gift I’ve ever known

Marnie Haines Howell writes of her memories with her late mom Doreen Haines

  • Dec 25, 2021
The late Doreen Haines and her daughter, Marnie Haines Howell. (Photo submitted) The late Doreen Haines and her daughter, Marnie Haines Howell. (Photo submitted)
(Emma Herrling photo)

Season’s Greetings: Christmastime at the cabin

Kirsten Fischer was winner of the 12 and under category in Spirit of Christmas writing contest

  • Dec 25, 2021
(Emma Herrling photo)
Annette Fischer penned a non-fiction story about a memory from her childhood in Switzerland. She is the first place winner of the <em>Tribune’s Spirit of Christmas </em>writing contest in the adult category. (Photo submitted)

Season’s Greetings 2021: The green leather pencil case

Annette Fischer was first place winner of the Tribune’s Spirit of Christmas writing contest

  • Dec 25, 2021
Annette Fischer penned a non-fiction story about a memory from her childhood in Switzerland. She is the first place winner of the <em>Tribune’s Spirit of Christmas </em>writing contest in the adult category. (Photo submitted)
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)
In 2020, Canadians consumed seven million whole turkeys, according to the Turkey Farmers of Canada. (Special to Black Press Media)

Canadians gobbling up turkey, eggnog this Christmas

Cranberries and Christmas trees also rank among top seasonal Canadian exports

In 2020, Canadians consumed seven million whole turkeys, according to the Turkey Farmers of Canada. (Special to Black Press Media)
Palestinian scout band members parade through Manger Square at the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, during Christmas celebrations, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Friday, Dec. 24, 2021. The biblical town of Bethlehem is gearing up for its second straight Christmas Eve hit by the coronavirus with small crowds and gray, gloomy weather dampening celebrations Friday in the traditional birthplace of Jesus. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

COVID puts a damper on Christmas Eve again around the world

In Germany, a line wound halfway around Cologne’s massive cathedral — for vaccinations

Palestinian scout band members parade through Manger Square at the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, during Christmas celebrations, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Friday, Dec. 24, 2021. The biblical town of Bethlehem is gearing up for its second straight Christmas Eve hit by the coronavirus with small crowds and gray, gloomy weather dampening celebrations Friday in the traditional birthplace of Jesus. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau poses for a photograph in Ottawa, on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. The prime minister says there is still reason for Canadians to be hopeful despite the ongoing crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

In Christmas message, Trudeau says Canadians can be hopeful amid the pandemic

‘Keep showing up for one another’ prime minister urges nation’s citizens

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau poses for a photograph in Ottawa, on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. The prime minister says there is still reason for Canadians to be hopeful despite the ongoing crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
The Bay Centre in downtown Victoria set a record with gift card sales in November. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Gift cards rule retail as B.C.’s mall shops work around supply chain issues

Shopping anywhere is a boutique experience right now, says Victoria mall general manager

The Bay Centre in downtown Victoria set a record with gift card sales in November. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
In this photo provided by the North American Aerospace Defense Command, a 22 Wing member is seen showing how they track Santa on his sleigh on Christmas evening during a media preview at the Canadian Forces Base in North Bay on Dec. 9, 2021. In a Christmas Eve tradition going on its 66th year, a wildly popular program run by the U.S. and Canadian militaries is providing real-time updates on Santa’s progress around the globe — and fielding calls from children who want to know St. Nick’s exact whereabouts. (Sable Brown/NORAD via AP)

Yes, there is a Santa Claus. And no, COVID-19 won’t stop him

NORAD will provide real-time updates on Santa’s progress Dec. 24, pandemic or no pandemic

In this photo provided by the North American Aerospace Defense Command, a 22 Wing member is seen showing how they track Santa on his sleigh on Christmas evening during a media preview at the Canadian Forces Base in North Bay on Dec. 9, 2021. In a Christmas Eve tradition going on its 66th year, a wildly popular program run by the U.S. and Canadian militaries is providing real-time updates on Santa’s progress around the globe — and fielding calls from children who want to know St. Nick’s exact whereabouts. (Sable Brown/NORAD via AP)
November 10, 2021 - Items at Five Fields shop in Oak Bay for Christmas decor feature in Tweed magazine. Don Denton photo

Homemade for the Christmas holidays

Do-it-yourself decorating for a greener world

  • Dec 24, 2021
November 10, 2021 - Items at Five Fields shop in Oak Bay for Christmas decor feature in Tweed magazine. Don Denton photo
People wearing face masks to curb the spread of COVID-19 walk past a Christmas display in Vancouver, on Thursday, December 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays? What about eggnog – yay or nay?

On the plus side, more Canadians expecting the holidays to be less stressful than last year

People wearing face masks to curb the spread of COVID-19 walk past a Christmas display in Vancouver, on Thursday, December 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Olivia Jackson recounts her adventure with ‘a grinch’ Wednesday, Dec. 22. Photo: Laurie Tritschler

Grand Forks girl finds the Grinch before Christmas

‘The Grinch hates Christmas,’ says six-year-old Olivia Jackson

Olivia Jackson recounts her adventure with ‘a grinch’ Wednesday, Dec. 22. Photo: Laurie Tritschler
Yvonne Davis was one of many happy wreath-makers at the Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society’s Earth Friendly Holiday Event in 2019. (Vanessa Moberg Photo)

Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society is dreaming of a ‘Green’ holiday

Some ideas and inspiration to make this your most eco-friendly holiday yet

  • Dec 20, 2021
Yvonne Davis was one of many happy wreath-makers at the Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society’s Earth Friendly Holiday Event in 2019. (Vanessa Moberg Photo)
FILE - Robin Pecknold of the Fleet Foxes performs at the Coachella Music & Arts Festival on April 14, 2018, in Indio, Calif. The Fleet Foxes song “White Winter Hymnal,” written by Pecknold, and released in 2008, has become a modern holiday standard, sung by children’s choirs in countless school assemblies. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP, File)

Red snow? Song becomes a most unexpected modern standard for the holidays

Songwriter surprised at how ‘White Winter Hymnal’ has turned into a Christmas staple

FILE - Robin Pecknold of the Fleet Foxes performs at the Coachella Music & Arts Festival on April 14, 2018, in Indio, Calif. The Fleet Foxes song “White Winter Hymnal,” written by Pecknold, and released in 2008, has become a modern holiday standard, sung by children’s choirs in countless school assemblies. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP, File)
(L-R) Les Folles Jambettes’ Vanessa Reyes-Golding, Sarah Leslie and Melanie Shenstone pose for a photo next to a family of snow people displayed at a home on 17th Avenue, near the intersection of 77th Avenue on Saturday, Dec. 18. Photo: Laurie Tritschler

Grand Forks’ Can Can dancers trot out Christmas flash mobs

City residents with amazing Christmas displays were treated to the surprise dances

(L-R) Les Folles Jambettes’ Vanessa Reyes-Golding, Sarah Leslie and Melanie Shenstone pose for a photo next to a family of snow people displayed at a home on 17th Avenue, near the intersection of 77th Avenue on Saturday, Dec. 18. Photo: Laurie Tritschler