1971 Victoria White Christmas

Yes, Virginia, it sometimes snows in Victoria. This is our back yard after the surprise Christmas morning snowstorm of 1971. Victoria rarely gets a white Christmas; the chance of one happening is only about 11%. There wasn't another one for 20 years. The last one was in 2008 when the entire country had a white Christmas. (And technically, the Blizzard of '96, one of the biggest snowfalls in Canadian history, began on Boxing Day, and so doesn't count as a white Christmas.) The bridge in the photo (Admirals Road over Colquitz Creek) was replaced a number of years ago.

Winter Is Coming

My sisters bundle up on a Montreal winter's day, getting ready to try out the backyard skating rink Dad would make for them every winter.

Trans-Carrot Highway

Not the longest highway on Vancouver Island, but the most nutritious.

Mystery Place

I have no idea where this is, but I'm going to guess Englishman River Falls. What's your guess?

Two Mothers

Here's another of my dad's trick shots, showing mom trying to borrow a magazine off mom. I presume it's a double exposure.

Of course, these days, all it takes is a few clicks in Photoshop to do the same thing.

Mom

Here's a shot my dad took of mom playing on a dam somewhere. And somewhen.

Granny

I don't remember my grandmother, my dad's mother, as much of a smiler. She was, of course, many years older when I knew her, quite elderly, and not always in the best of health. But here, dad caught her with a lovely grin and a twinkle in her eye.

Selfie, 1950s style

This is how my dad looked in the 1950s selfie.

Kid

I have no idea who this is, or why he has the funny thing in his mouth But Dad thought he made for an amusing photo.

Man Feeding a Squirrel

It's a man. Feeding a squirrel.

And here's another angle of the same man feeding the same squirrel.

Prairie Sunset

In the fall of 1971, the family moved out west to Victoria. My mom and I took the train, while dad and my sister drove the car out. They approached Regina just as the sun was going down.