From concerts to plays to craft markets, there are plenty of events on the December calendar for those looking to celebrate the season with some festively themed entertainment.

Most are returning as live events, too, with safety protocols in place, although a couple of have stayed online. So if you’re looking to shop for something special at a local market or celebrate the season with some festively themed entertainment, there is plenty scheduled to make sure this December resembles last year’s in name only.

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Fleurs de Villes NOËL
When : Dec. 10 – 19
Where : Downtown Vancouver
Tickets and info : fleursdevilles.com
Presented by the National Bank of Canada and hosted by the Downtown Vanouver BIA and Robson Street Business Association, this annual festive floral display will feature 40-plus unique floral art installations designed by Vancouver’s top florists. The floral trail begins in the lobby of the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and then follows a route up Robson, back on Alberni Street and winds up at the Vancouver Art Gallery. QR codes and maps will be available.

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An Evening With Sinatra: Big Band Classics and Holiday Magic
When: Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Chilliwack Cultural Centre, 9201 Corbould St., Chilliwack
Tickets : From $30 at chilliwackculturalcentre.ca or 604 391-7469
Join the Bruce James Orchestra with Steve Maddock as they celebrate the holiday season and the singing-sensation that was Frank Sinatra. The late crooner was renowned for his holiday jazz shows and this one will highlight some of ol’ blue eyes fave tunes.

Vancouver Christmas Market
When: Until Dec. 24
Where: Jack Poole Plaza (at the Olympic Cauldron), 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver
Tickets: From $10.39 at vancouverchristmasmarket.com
Vancouver’s largest and longest-running Christmas market is a traditional German-style event with mulled wine, treats and baked goods, carousel rides, festive music, and magical lighting displays.

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CandyTown 2021
When: Nov. 27, noon-6 p.m.
Where: Yaletown (Mainland, Hamilton and parts of Davie St.)
Info: yaletowninfo.com
Roaming holiday characters, live ice sculpting, and a holiday gift market with local vendors take over Yaletown for an afternoon. There is also an updated CandyTown Cocktail Tour and a life-size CandyLand board game. Returning favourites include by-donation horse-drawn carriage rides with proceeds benefiting B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation, and live ice carvings. For those bringing their kids to the all-ages winter festival, a Letters to Santa workshop will be available.

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Toque Craft Fair
When: Dec. 1-5
Where: Online
Info: toquecraftfair.com
The annual fundraiser for Western Front’s artistic program is staying online for a second year in a row. Visitors are invited to browse and buy online from a curated selection of textiles, ceramics, jewelry, flowers, books, crafts, and home and body products by 30 B.C.-based artists, designers, and artisans. Purchased items will be available for pickup at Western Front, 303 E. 8th Ave., Dec. 11, noon-7 p.m. and Dec. 12, noon-4 p.m. The participating artists and designers donate 30 per cent of all sales to support the program.

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A Broadway Holiday
When: Dec. 16-23
Where: Gateway Theatre, 6500 Gilbert Road, Richmond and online
Tickets: From $29 at gatewaytheatre.com
Gateway Theatre presents its first in-person, indoor audiences since February 2020. Created by Barbara Tomasic and Christopher King (Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat and The Music Man), A Broadway Holiday features selected hits from Broadway shows such as Let it Snow, Sleigh Ride, and White Christmas. Seven singer-musicians playing a variety of instruments including the accordion, piano, and the kazoo perform. For patrons who would like to sing along in the comfort of their own home, a digital VOD version will be available.

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Community Caroling at Kits Point
When: Dec. 7, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
Where: Vancouver Maritime Museum, 1905 Ogden Ave., Vancouver
Info: vanmaritime.com
The Kits Point Residents Association and the Vancouver Maritime Museum present an evening of outdoor caroling, cookie decorating, and admission-by-donation to the museum. The Salvation Army Band will play familiar carols outside the museum for a community sing-a-long. Lyric sheets will be available.

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Christmas with Chor Leoni
When: Dec. 17, 18 and 20 at 8 p.m., Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., and Dec. 20 at 4:30 p.m.
Where: St. Andrew’s-Wesley United, 1022 Nelson St., Vancouver
Tickets: From $20 at bardonthebeach.org
It’s the return of the holiday tradition, Christmas with Chor Leoni. Violinist/fiddler Cameron Wilson joins the men’s choir in celebration of festive favourites in the newly restored St. Andrew’s-Wesley United. The program includes holiday classics and carols such as Hark the Herald Angels Sing and Winter Wonderland, and new arrangements of God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen from Marques L.A. Garrett; Noel from Naomi Laviolette; and Auld Lang Syne from Chor Leoni’s Erick Lichte, as well as brand new Chor Leoni repertoire It’s Almost Time by David Wilcox, arranged by Keith Sinclair; Ring Out by Zachary Wadsworth; and Looks Like a Cold, Cold Winter, arranged by Ken Cormier. The concert ends with Chor Leoni’s signature, singalong candlelit encore of Silent Night.

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Dawn Pemberton | Jodi Proznick: O, Come All Ye Soulful
When: Dec. 3 at 8 p.m.
Where: Studio Theatre, Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, 6450 Deer Lake Ave., Burnaby, and online
Tickets: $30 for the live show, $15 for live-stream at tickets.shadboltcentre.com , and coryweeds.com
Vocalist Dawn Pemberton joins bassist/bandleader Jodi Proznick to deliver soulful takes on holiday classics. They will be backed by a band composed of Cory Weeds (tenor saxophone), Chris Davis (trumpet), Tilden Webb (piano), and Jesse Cahill (drums). Songs by Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Ella Fitzgerald, John Legend, Donny Hathaway, Otis Redding, Darlene Love, The Eagles, Vince Guaraldi and more are featured.

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Music on Main presents Music for the Winter Solstice
When: Dec. 15-16
Where: Heritage Hall, 3102 Main St., Vancouver
Info: musiconmain.ca
Music on Main’s annual tradition returns with warm and inspiring music for the winter season. Musicians include Veda Hille, Patsy Klein, Lucien Durey, and Nicholas Krgovich (vocals); Chloe Kim (violin); and Julia Chien (vibraphone).

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BCIT Alumni Holiday Market
When: Until Dec. 31
Where: Online at bcit.ca/alumni/enjoy/holiday-market/
Info/tickets: bcit.ca/alumni/enjoy/holiday-market/
BCIT alumni-owned businesses are featured in this online market. Products include local artwork, artisan chocolates, wellness products, modern home décor, and more.

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Weirdos Holiday Market
When: Dec. 4-5 and Dec. 11-12, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Where: The Venables Hall, 1739 Venables St., Vancouver
Tickets: $4 at the door for ages 13+ (by donation for children 12 and under)
Since its launch in 2017, the Weirdos Holiday Market has established itself as the go-to market for the region’s most eclectic selection of holiday gift ideas. In 2019, the market attracted more than 5,000 patrons in a single weekend. This year’s features more than 25 vendors selling “witchy wares, anatomical curiosities, unique collectibles, quirky clothing and eccentric art” according to the media release, as well as “magical pottery, one-of-a-kind prints, candles, books, stickers and much more.” A portion of the door proceeds will be donated to the Urban Native Youth Association.

Chanukah Market
When: Nov. 28, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: Jewish Community Centre, 950 W 41st Ave., Vancouver
Info: jccgv.com (admission free with a donation to the Jewish Food Bank)
For the inaugural Chanukah Market, the JCC transforms its parking area into a marketplace with entertainment. Performers include Tzimmes, singer/guitarist Anders Nerman, children’s entertainer Monika Schwartzmann, the Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir, singer-songwriter Auto Jansz, and the klezmer sounds of the Klesbians, along with bands, singers, and dancers. The day’s festivities culminate in the lighting of the first candle on the menorah at sundown.

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Oh Christmas Tea
When: Dec. 22
Where: Centennial Theatre, 2300 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver
Tickets: $19-$44 at jamesandjamesy.com/o-christmas-tea
British comedy duo James and Jamesy return with their seasonal show O Christmas Tea. The premise: As the world floods with tea, the duo must find solutions to keep them afloat as they try to make their way back home.

Despite supply-chain disruptions and restrictions on mobility and assembly, Canadian homebuilders continued constructing new homes as demand suddenly climbed during the pandemic.

A new report by the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) highlighted the resilience of residential construction in 2020, with activity resuming in May that year once the sector was declared an essential service.

The homebuilding and renovation sector contributed to the economy while many other industries faltered because of pandemic-related restrictions. The residential construction sector in 2020 supported 1.24 million on- and off-site jobs, providing $81 billion in wages.

The focus in residential construction is usually on new home construction, but most jobs (58 per cent) are in renovation, while 42 per cent are associated with new home construction.

The report also describes how labour and material shortages contributed to construction delays and increased the price of newly built homes.

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Canada will start taxing foreign nationals who use Canadian homes to park their wealth, according to the federal government’s fiscal update released on Monday.

“Too often, the price of homes is out of reach for Canadians, in particular for those looking to buy their first home,” the update reads. “Speculative demand from foreign, non-resident investors contributes to unaffordable housing prices for many Canadians. To help make the housing market more secure and affordable for Canadians, the government is committed to ensuring that foreign, non-resident owners, who simply use Canada as a place to passively store their wealth in housing, pay their fair share.”

“The government will take steps over the coming year to implement a national, tax-based measure targeting the unproductive use of domestic housing that is owned by non-resident, non-Canadians, which removes these assets from the domestic housing supply,” the update adds.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland unveiled the tax targeting foreign speculators in the mini budget outlining her Liberal government’s economic recovery plan.

The foreigner owner tax was part of Liberal Party’s federal election platform.

“To limit the housing speculation that can drive up home prices, we will also put in place a consistent national tax on vacant residential properties owned by non-Canadians who don’t live in Canada,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s party promised voters. “And we will work with interested provinces,territories and communities to establish a national approach to beneficial ownership so that law enforcement and tax authorities have the tools necessary to crack down on financial crime inthe real estate sector, while respecting Canadian privacy rights.”

The Liberals need support of at least one other party to approve the fiscal update.

The federal New Democrats, who also promised a tax on foreign homebuyers in their platform, are likely to support Freeland’s plan.

One of many things that make the holidays special is the experience of a live performance. Whether it’s a play, a panto, a symphony, an opera—gathering together to enjoy a festive arts foray is part of our prized winter calendar.

Sadly, like so many of our treasured traditions, this year will be different. No, we can’t (for the moment) attend a live performance, but, undeterred, arts organizations who bring us our annual holiday shows have pivoted to provide us a streaming alternative. There is plenty here to entertain your household, so pull out the calendar and start planning your holiday home arts extravaganza.

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