As someone fairly new to Victoria—and to British Columbia—I can’t overstate how weird (and great) the truck parade is as an outsider. There’s something so, incredibly surreal (and great) about seeing the same cement mixer that pours the foundations of new buildings, or the snow plough that keeps people moving on the rare snowy days, now decked out with fog machines, tinsel, and being driven by the Grinch.

I don’t know how it started but I love it. I hope Victoria never stops celebrating with a truck-based Christmas parade.

As someone who’s always loved to garden, I find great joy in seeing flowers bloom.

In Victoria, residents are generally allowed to plant gardens in the right of way—the strips of grass between the street and sidewalk that the city legally owns, reserved for telephone poles, mailboxes, signs, and more. However, many avid gardeners extend their efforts into these spaces as well.

It’s incredible to witness the care people put into these small patches of earth. Each garden tells a story, filled with time, love, and a passion for growing. It reflects a willingness to beautify our city and share that effort with others. There’s something special about watching people pause to smell and appreciate each other’s gardens, and how these small acts of appreciation bring us all together.

The story of Fernwood’s iconic telephone poles is a story about the tension between safety and placemaking.

The tradition began in 2008, with a local artist and activist, Beth Threfall. Inspired by the ‘intersection repair’ movement, which used pubic are to foster community and a sense of place, she started painting the poles in Fernwood. The small project grew into the annual Pole Painting Day, with free paint salvaged from the Hartland Landfill.

After 11 years, BC Hydro issued a province-wide ban on painted telephone poles, citing safety concerns - painted poles were more prone to rot and made it harder for workers to assess damage.