The year brought a mix of stories to Black Press Media sites across Western Canada, with no shortage of community stories brought to readers by local journalists.
People who made the news across Canada
From massive lottery wins to a magician trying to get his spark back and the world’s richest man on a weekend getaway in B.C., here are the people that made headlines in community news.
Abbotsford man named one of Canada’s favourite crossing guards
For a quarter of a century, Abbotsford’s Pat McDermott has been helping kids make it to and from school safely, and this year he was celebrated for it.
VIDEO: Robotic exoskeleton gives gift of walking to Maple Ridge boy
A Maple Ridge boy with cerebral palsy underwent therapy in Alberta with a new walking device his mother called a game changer.
B.C.’s longest serving mayor, Alice Maitland, dies at 91
The longest serving mayor in B.C.’s history has died.
Alice Maitland was 91 years old. She was first elected to council in the northwest B.C. village of Hazelton in 1965 and served as councillor until 1970. She became mayor in 1976 and held that position for 42 years.
Surrey father, 35, wins $80M in record-breaking Lotto Max draw
Surrey father Justin Simporios had a sleepless night after learning he won the record-breaking $80-million jackpot in the Lotto Max draw on May 9. He scored the largest jackpot prize ever won in B.C., and the largest prize ever won by a single individual in Canada.
Kamloops man wins largest ever scratch and win prize in B.C.
The first thought Toni Matic had after checking a $50 Extreme scratch and wining ticket was “Are those number really that big?” He won $5 million.
Red Deer man wins $3.2 million through Oilers 50-50 draw
A Red Deer man is now a millionaire after winning the Edmonton Oilers 50-50 draw.
Reformed gang members to bring cultural healing to Yukon youth
A group of reformed gang members from Winnipeg visited the Yukon from May 26 to 30, leading workshops that blend culture, ceremony and land-based practices to help youth reconnect with their roots and choose healthier paths forward.
VIDEO: How a B.C. dad’s life was saved by his kids
When he completed his course in CPR and first-aid as part of his work for the City of Coquitlam, Sava Savkovic hoped he would never have to use it. Then, at the family home in Langley, B.C., his dad Nik, 74, began to feel unwell.
It was in January, that Savkovic and his sisters were presented with a Vital Link award by Emergency Health Services.
Teen discovers endangered snake in Boston Bar
Toshiro “Andy” Baziuk discovered the snake while exploring the woods near his home on May 18. While investigating a small stream of water, and trying to divert it back to an old culvert in the area, he noticed something wiggling in the ground nearby. It was only after picking it up that he realized he’d found a snake.
Men attempt crossing of Whitehorse’s Miles Canyon on a slack line
Those out walking around the suspension bridge at Miles Canyon in the Yukon on Sept. 21 may have seen a surprising scene.
Two young men, David Martin and Hayden Griffis, and their one-man support crew were setting a slack line between the opposing basalt walls of the canyon.
VIDEO: Giving back just the trick to rekindle spark for Sooke magician
After years away from the spotlight, a Vancouver Island magician hopes revisiting his old stagecraft wizardry might help him rebuild some joy in his own life – though he knows it won’t be as simple as waving a magic wand.
‘Is that him?’: Elon Musk lands at Central Coast airport
Elon Musk flew in and out of a small village airport on B.C.’s Central Coast in late August, drawing media attention from around the world.
Wild and wacky animal stories
There were a number of animal stories from the coast, but Black Press Media reporters also covered stories on resilient animals – and reptiles and raptors.
From the ashes of wildfires, the snakes of the North slither on
After a long winter cold winter, wildlife in the North is chomping at the bit to get out and enjoy the short summer. Those shaking off their winter topor range from bears to frogs and even snakes.
Yes, you read that right – Canada’s frozen territory is home to the Northernmost population of garter snakes known in North America.
Lost sea lion stuns commuters by waddling along Vancouver Island highway
An absurdly lost California sea lion startled commuters on Highway 4 on Vancouver Island on a Sunday in January, before eventually slipping away into the waters of a nearby lake.
300-pound emotional support pig in Surrey needs a home
He’s a real sweetheart who loves to relax, snack and nap. He may carry a few extra pounds, but that could be because he avoids vegetables whenever he’s able.
Truffles, a 10-year-old pot-bellied pig, was looking for his new forever home at the BC SPCA’s Good Shepherd Barn in Surrey.
One of ‘world’s oldest’ flamingos celebrates 50th birthday in Central Saanich
One of the “world’s oldest” flamingos marked a major milestone in November.
‘Tiny but tough,’ Pygmy Owl survives being hit by car in Cariboo
A Northern Pygmy Owl proved its toughness after getting hit by a car on Highway 97 in B.C.’s Cariboo region in early January.
VIDEO: Lunging sea lion startles sunrise swimmers at Colwood beach
Cold-plunging in the waters of Esquimalt Lagoon is supposed to take your breath away. But for two sunrise swimmers, a routine dip got the blood pumping in more ways than one. Langford locals Ennio Titarenko and Andrew Wierzbicki had barely been in the water five minutes when a bull sea lion surfaced roughly 15 feet away from them.
‘Super chill’ surfing Sooke sea otter rides tandem with Whiffin Spit surfer
Instead of catching waves, a surfer in Sooke, on Vancouver Island, caught the attention of a “frisky” sea otter who decided to try its paw at the sport, climbing onboard to ride tandem.
Malakwa artist creates unique pieces through collaboration with spider
In a story reminiscent of Charlotte’s Web, a spider is helping a Malakwa artist make a name for herself with unique pieces using nature.
Right place, right tide: Rare 7-armed deep-sea octopus found on Pender Island
A wolf eel carcass or a Bigg’s killer whale’s discarded harbour porpoise snack might make for a gruesome but fascinating shoreline discovery – but for South Pender Island’s Kathleen Durant, that’s small fry. During an August morning ramble with her Australian shepherd pooch near her waterfront home, Durant stumbled upon what some call the “white whale” of the cephalopod world: a seven-armed octopus.
Places and things
Community stories were also about more than people and animals, there were new, unique businesses that popped up, a seagull-screeching contest and the case of a missing time capsule.
Yukoner’s snow castle commands attention in Dawson City
A Dawson City man has spent the winter turning freshly fallen snow into a mighty fortification outside his home.
Canada’s first-ever crochet cafe comes to Abbotsford
Crocheting and coffee are the heart of Abbotsford’s newest business.
The Knotty Brew is a unique creation from the mind of Beatriz, who goes by Bea and is taking a big leap from her former career as a teacher. This cafe combines a love for caffeine and crocheting, with these crafters being one of the fastest-growing communities.
Squawk of the town: Euro seagull screeching contest migrates to Victoria
Inspired by the European Championship Gull Screeching contest, which takes place every year in the Belgian coastal town of De Panne, Victoria played host to its first ‘Scream-like-a-gull contest.’
Red Deer-made rye named best in the world
A Red Deer-crafted whisky has been named the world’s best rye. GrainHenge Arrowwood Whisky, produced by Troubled Monk, was crowned World’s Best Rye and Best Canadian Rye at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards in London, England in March.
Does a monster really live in Cowichan Lake?
With water levels very low in Cowichan Lake until the rains in the fall, it was be a good time for observant lake watchers to see if they can catch a glimpse of a legendary monster that is said to inhabit its waters.
Cowichan’s Rodney Chilton said that even though it’s not nearly well known as the Okanagan Lakes Ogopogo, the enigmatic lake monster called Stin-Qua (or Stin-Quo depending on who you talk to) has quite a rich history as well.
Mystery of missing time capsule captivates Prince Rupert residents
Prince Rupert’s new time capsule project has reignited interest into the mystery of what happened to the previous one that was buried over half a century ago.
The capsule in question is a 1.2-metre-long ‘space capsule that was buried at Totem Park, near the then-new Prince Rupert Regional Hospital, by members of the city’s Junior Chamber of Commerce on the evening of Tuesday, July 21, 1971. The capsule was welded shut right after the deadline hour of 7 p.m., cast in cement and then buried almost one metre down, and was scheduled to be opened on Prince Rupert’s Centennial Day on March 10, 2010.
The city attempted to dig it up in the winter of 2009, nearly 40 years after the capsule was buried. However, there was a struggle to locate its whereabouts, and an appeal was even put out to the public in hopes of finding the historic collection