Around midnight in parts of northern B.C., the aurora borealis was welcoming in 2025 with a show some would say is more impressive than any man-made spectacle money can buy.

In Sidney, Australia, the 2024/25 budget for the famed and spectacular fireworks display over the Sidney Harbour was reportedly $6.3 million, exploding more than nine tonnes of chemical explosives into the air, according to 9news Australia. The costly fireworks would have been sending animals both wild and domestic alike running for cover and quaking from fear, while also jamming the Sidney Harbour and area roads with human revellers.

But across parts of the less populated north, a show was taking place, when the calendar flipped over into the new year Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥“ one which requires no chemical explosives, causes no animal chaos, and one free and open.

It was amazing timing for the appearance of the natural light display the aurora borealis, known as the northern lights. The display is a natural phenomenon caused by charged particles ejected by the sun which then interact with the planet's atmosphere, emitting light in different colours depending on which gases are present. Oxygen produces green and red light, nitrogen produces blue and purple light. (For more specifics on how it happens, visit: ) The displays also take place in the southern regions of the planet, but are called the aurora australis.

In Fort St. James, it was almost midnight when Arland Croquet's partner Evelyn Talha decided to go down to the beach, a short couple of blocks from Croquet's house, to view the northern lights display.

"It was awesome," said Croquet. "Better than fireworks."

It was Talha who realized the aurora display was taking place, and he said they went down to Cottonwood Beach to have a look. Thanks to the lack of extensive light pollution at this point in Fort St. James, they could see the incredible light show right from town, on the shores of Stuart Lake.

"It just kinda worked out great," said Croquet of the timing.

Croquet managed to catch some great photos using a long exposure, which include not only the northern lights but also the historic Our Lady of Good Hope Church, built in 1873 according to Heritage Canada.