Christmas

(Black Press Media Creative)

Christmas tree recycling is a good alternative to landfills

Taking down the Christmas tree is only one task after the holiday…

(Black Press Media Creative)
Santa Claus can be seen in many places at this time of year. (Pixabay.com)

QUIZ: How much do you know about Christmas traditions?

There are plenty of celebrations and customs on Dec. 25.

Santa Claus can be seen in many places at this time of year. (Pixabay.com)
(Black Press Media Elves)

NORAD Tracks Santa live: Follow St. Nick as he delivers presents around the world this Christmas Eve

Rest assured, kids of all ages: Santa’s coming this Christmas Eve. That’s…

(Black Press Media Elves)
Johanna deJong of Abbotsford has been collecting Christmas village items for more than 40 years. (Submitted image)

Abbotsford woman continues to raise funds for Alzheimer Society with Christmas village

‘Sparkyville’ includes countless figurines and has been in the works for more than 40 years

Johanna deJong of Abbotsford has been collecting Christmas village items for more than 40 years. (Submitted image)
Grade 1 and 2 students at Sunnyside Elementary school in South Surrey penned letters to Santa and shared them with the Peace Arch News. The young students asked the Jolly Old Elf a wide range of questions, including his preferences in cookies and whether they would find themselves on the naughty list this year. (Brenda Anderson photo)

Dear Santa – Grade 1 and 2 students in B.C. have a long list of questions for the Jolly Old Elf

Sunnyside Elementary students in South Surrey share their letters to Santa

  • Dec 24, 2022
Grade 1 and 2 students at Sunnyside Elementary school in South Surrey penned letters to Santa and shared them with the Peace Arch News. The young students asked the Jolly Old Elf a wide range of questions, including his preferences in cookies and whether they would find themselves on the naughty list this year. (Brenda Anderson photo)
Road closed

B.C’s Coquihalla closed between Hope and Merritt

Crash has major route shut down overnight

Road closed
The CP Holiday Train stopped in Agassiz this weekend for the first time in three years. Hundreds of people lined the tracks to check out the holiday display on wheels. (Adam Louis/Observer)

VIDEO: CP Holiday Train’s long-awaited return draws hundreds to Agassiz

Country music and Christmas cheer warmed up a cold, rainy night

The CP Holiday Train stopped in Agassiz this weekend for the first time in three years. Hundreds of people lined the tracks to check out the holiday display on wheels. (Adam Louis/Observer)
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.
People get their photo with Santa and his workshop, located next to the outdoor skating pond at Grouse Mountain’s annual Peak of Christmas attraction. (Photo: Tom Zillich)

Light Walk photo ops, skating and more: Tips to enjoy Peak of Christmas on Grouse

Reservations are now required for photos with Santa, so be quick to book

People get their photo with Santa and his workshop, located next to the outdoor skating pond at Grouse Mountain’s annual Peak of Christmas attraction. (Photo: Tom Zillich)
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)
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)
Leanne Koehn with the Ridge Meadows Recycling Society provides several tips on how to be more environmentally friendly this Christmas. (The News)

How to have a green Christmas: Tips from the Ridge Meadows Recycling Society

Learn how to recycle everything from Christmas trees to wrapping paper

Leanne Koehn with the Ridge Meadows Recycling Society provides several tips on how to be more environmentally friendly this Christmas. (The News)
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)
Tom Verbrugge and his son Mica have the bonfire stoked and the hotdogs ready to roast when Tom’s Trees Christmas tree farm opens on Nov. 26, 2022. (PHOTO COURTESY TOM VERBRUGGE)

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

Tom Verbrugge and his son Mica have the bonfire stoked and the hotdogs ready to roast when Tom’s Trees Christmas tree farm opens on Nov. 26, 2022. (PHOTO COURTESY TOM VERBRUGGE)
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)
This house at 9365 Edward St. in Chilliwack was completely covered in lights in 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress file)

Help make Lower Mainland brighter by adding favourite Christmas lights displays to map

Anyone can add Christmassy homes, decorated public spaces to Black Press Media’s holiday lights map

This house at 9365 Edward St. in Chilliwack was completely covered in lights in 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress file)
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)

B.C. man with fractured spine warns of dangers in hanging holiday lights

‘Tis the season for decorations, ladders and the inevitable falls that go with them

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)
Hundreds turned out to walk through Glow Gardens in Langley on opening day Nov. 23. The Christmas light festival remains open on three acres of the Darvonda Nurseries in Milner until Dec. 31. The first five nights, at least, were sold out. (Roxanne Hooper/Langley Advance Times)

PHOTOS: Crisis averted – rain threatened to derail Glow opening

Lower Mainland Christmas light festival at Langley nursery is back as a walk-through show

Hundreds turned out to walk through Glow Gardens in Langley on opening day Nov. 23. The Christmas light festival remains open on three acres of the Darvonda Nurseries in Milner until Dec. 31. The first five nights, at least, were sold out. (Roxanne Hooper/Langley Advance Times)
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**