As inflation continues to weigh on Canadians’ budgets, some may have entered the new year taking on a self-imposed “no-buy challenge.” A woman does a bit of window shopping along Montreal’s Sainte-Catherine Street, on Tuesday, October 20, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Thinking about doing a no-buy challenge? Here’s what to consider

A no-buy challenge, made increasingly popular, is often done over the span of a month or even a year

As inflation continues to weigh on Canadians’ budgets, some may have entered the new year taking on a self-imposed “no-buy challenge.” A woman does a bit of window shopping along Montreal’s Sainte-Catherine Street, on Tuesday, October 20, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Diffenbachia is also known as dumb cane. Chewing a portion of its stem can render someone temporarily but painfully speechless, as the calcium oxalate crystals in it can cause throat and mouth swelling. (File photo by Advocate news services)

Pretty but toxic: Watch toddlers around these houseplants

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Diffenbachia is also known as dumb cane. Chewing a portion of its stem can render someone temporarily but painfully speechless, as the calcium oxalate crystals in it can cause throat and mouth swelling. (File photo by Advocate news services)
Visitors view artist Refik Anadol’s “Unsupervised” exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, in New York. The new AI-generated installation is meant to be a thought-provoking interpretation of the New York City museum’s prestigious collection. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Learning to lie: AI tools proving adept at creating disinformation

‘I think what’s clear is that in the wrong hands there’s going to be a lot of trouble’

Visitors view artist Refik Anadol’s “Unsupervised” exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, in New York. The new AI-generated installation is meant to be a thought-provoking interpretation of the New York City museum’s prestigious collection. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
An animatronic Santa Claus greets shoppers at the entrance of a mall in Alaska. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Results released in girl’s request for DNA evidence of Santa

Reindeer traces confirmed after Rhode Island lab tests carrots

An animatronic Santa Claus greets shoppers at the entrance of a mall in Alaska. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Kathy Yuen drills into the importance of keeping the communication channels open for the success of your home building project. (HAVAN photo)

PODCAST: What’s the Drill? Home Building Communication Strategies

TODAY IN BC: HAVAN’s podcast ‘Measure Twice, Cut Once’

Kathy Yuen drills into the importance of keeping the communication channels open for the success of your home building project. (HAVAN photo)
An alcoholic beverage is seen in a drinking establishment in Halifax on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018. Canada’s new guidance on alcohol is sparking plenty of debate, and while some experts say it could lead to frank conversations with health providers to help drinkers make informed choices, others are questioning the advice to imbibe fewer than two drinks per week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
An alcoholic beverage is seen in a drinking establishment in Halifax on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018. Canada’s new guidance on alcohol is sparking plenty of debate, and while some experts say it could lead to frank conversations with health providers to help drinkers make informed choices, others are questioning the advice to imbibe fewer than two drinks per week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
A woman cheers and holds a sign as hundreds of fans gather in support of Vancouver Canucks' enforcer Gino Odjick outside Vancouver General Hospital on Sunday June 29, 2014. Odjick had announced he was diagnosed with Amyloidosis. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

PODCAST: Gino Odjick, one of the most popular Canucks of all time

MOJ on Sports: Fan favorite dies at age 52 from Amyloidosis

A woman cheers and holds a sign as hundreds of fans gather in support of Vancouver Canucks' enforcer Gino Odjick outside Vancouver General Hospital on Sunday June 29, 2014. Odjick had announced he was diagnosed with Amyloidosis. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Terry Liu, dressed as the God of Wealth, prepares for the Lunar New Year parade in Chinatown, in Vancouver, on Sunday, January 22, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

5 things to know about Lunar New Year and the Year of the Rabbit

What are people born in the Year of the Rabbit associated with, and how is the day celebrated?

Terry Liu, dressed as the God of Wealth, prepares for the Lunar New Year parade in Chinatown, in Vancouver, on Sunday, January 22, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
2 white rabbits chillin in some hay (Debra Walley BC SPCA)

The Year of the Rabbit promises good luck. Here’s what to know before adopting one.

Pet rabbits take a lot of work but are sure to bring happiness to loving guardians, the BC SPCA says

2 white rabbits chillin in some hay (Debra Walley BC SPCA)
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jake Allen is congratulated by teammates after stopping the Calgary Flames in the shootout to win 2-1 in NHL hockey action in Montreal, Monday, Dec. 12, 2022. When did the Canadiens last win the Stanley Cup? (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson)

QUIZ: How much do you really know about hockey

Canada is a nation of hockey players and dedicated fans of the game

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jake Allen is congratulated by teammates after stopping the Calgary Flames in the shootout to win 2-1 in NHL hockey action in Montreal, Monday, Dec. 12, 2022. When did the Canadiens last win the Stanley Cup? (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson)
Joe Sommer has completed 190 jigsaw puzzles, all of which are on display in the basement of his Chilliwack home. Seen here are about half of the puzzles. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

VIDEO: This B.C. man, 89, has spent 57 years completing 200 jigsaw puzzles

All given to him as gifts, Joe Sommer has spent 57 years doing jigsaw puzzles and then mounting them

Joe Sommer has completed 190 jigsaw puzzles, all of which are on display in the basement of his Chilliwack home. Seen here are about half of the puzzles. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
Anthony Bucci photographed a bald eagle in Blackfish Sound last fall as it swooped down on a herring ball. (Anthony Bucci Photography)

B.C. photographer’s bald eagle photo Canada’s choice for international contest

Anthony Bucci lives on northern Vancouver Island and has his own wildlife touring business

Anthony Bucci photographed a bald eagle in Blackfish Sound last fall as it swooped down on a herring ball. (Anthony Bucci Photography)
Phil Hillier is joined by dad Chris in the digger at a Campbell River construction site for Phil’s third birthday. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror

VIDEO: Campbell River construction workers help build the best birthday ever

Akers Property Solutions construction crew gives a young fan a party to remember

Phil Hillier is joined by dad Chris in the digger at a Campbell River construction site for Phil’s third birthday. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror
An image created more than a decade ago by Northwest Coast artist Andy Everson was given an added touch this week to honour the passing of Vancouber Canucks’ enforcer Gino Odjick. Image by Andy Everson

B.C. Northwest Coast artist honours Canucks’ legend Gino Odjick with image

Comox Valley artist reworks 2011 work in popular late hockey player’s honour

An image created more than a decade ago by Northwest Coast artist Andy Everson was given an added touch this week to honour the passing of Vancouber Canucks’ enforcer Gino Odjick. Image by Andy Everson
Guests are are shown in one of the many pools at the Grand Wailea Resort, Feb. 6, 2006 in Wailea, Maui, Hawaii. Resort fees that aren’t advertised as part of the room rate of a hotel stay can surprise many travelers when they see the final price. Some hotels say the separate fees help cover the costs of valuable amenities like classes or equipment rentals. Those fees may even encourage guests to use these amenities. But the government says resort fees are a play for profit because they reduce the commissions resorts must pay travel agents based on nightly rates and resorts aren’t being transparent enough about the added fees when travelers are trying to book. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia, file)

As resort fees start to add up, are they ever worth it?

A look at the pros and cons of this increasingly common practice

Guests are are shown in one of the many pools at the Grand Wailea Resort, Feb. 6, 2006 in Wailea, Maui, Hawaii. Resort fees that aren’t advertised as part of the room rate of a hotel stay can surprise many travelers when they see the final price. Some hotels say the separate fees help cover the costs of valuable amenities like classes or equipment rentals. Those fees may even encourage guests to use these amenities. But the government says resort fees are a play for profit because they reduce the commissions resorts must pay travel agents based on nightly rates and resorts aren’t being transparent enough about the added fees when travelers are trying to book. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia, file)
Adding a bit of colour to the landscape @kimberleyalpineresort. (greatgramsofgary/ Instagram)

Gary the cat shreds the gnar in Golden

Gary is a skiing cat that tours the Rockies

Adding a bit of colour to the landscape @kimberleyalpineresort. (greatgramsofgary/ Instagram)
Customers can get free popcorn with Scene+ on Jan. 19 at a Cineplex theatre near them. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov)

Cineplex Odeon offering free popcorn – and Colonel Kernel tattoos – on Jan. 19

Cineplex’s free temporary tattoo for National Popcorn Day inspired by B.C. man

Customers can get free popcorn with Scene+ on Jan. 19 at a Cineplex theatre near them. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov)
An Air Canada aircraft taxis at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

Airlines top list of who to blame for 2022 holiday travel chaos across Canada, survey says

More Canadians blame weather and airlines rather than the federal government for December’s flight cancellations

An Air Canada aircraft taxis at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)
Pindy Janda, Vice President of the B.C. Pharmacy Association. (BC Pharmacy Association photo)

PODCAST: Shortages of children and adult medicines across B.C.

TODAY IN B.C.: Pharmacy Association offers insights and solutions

Pindy Janda, Vice President of the B.C. Pharmacy Association. (BC Pharmacy Association photo)
The 2024 Corvette E Ray test vehicle is seen, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, in Milford Mich. The E-Ray is a gas electric hybrid, the first all-wheel-drive version of Chevrolet's storied sports car with the front wheels running on an electric motor the traditional 6.2-liter V8 powering the back.. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Fastest Corvette ever is all-wheel-drive gas-electric hybrid

The E-Ray goes from zero to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds and will be available next year

The 2024 Corvette E Ray test vehicle is seen, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, in Milford Mich. The E-Ray is a gas electric hybrid, the first all-wheel-drive version of Chevrolet's storied sports car with the front wheels running on an electric motor the traditional 6.2-liter V8 powering the back.. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)