Most-read stories across Canada
1. Driver fined $4,500, banned after twice ignoring Rogers Pass closure
The provincial court hearing only happened toward the end of 2025, but the most-read story across Black Press Media sites was about a driver receiving a fine and getting banned after ignoring a B.C. highway closure – twice.
2. Victoria grocery store vows to keep U.S. produce off its shelves
By July, Urban Grocer in Victoria, B.C. had managed to keep American fruits and veggies off its shelves for four months. The store planned to extend its streak.
3. U.S. begins ‘outbound’ checks at Aldergrove and Sumas crossings
Canada-U.S. relations – unsurprisingly – made several of the most-read stories across Canada. In May, the Langley Advance Times reported that U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers had begun occasionally stopping northbound traffic at the Aldergrove and Abbotsford crossings into B.C., adding to travel delays.
4. Lockdown imposed as rural Northern B.C. community urges outsiders to stay away
Also in May, a northern B.C. community near the Yukon border imposed a community lockdown.
Deputy chief Harlan Schilling said Lower Post was “just seeing a bit of a rise in just some activity that, again, is not wanted or welcomed in our community.”
5. North Saanich’s Epicure to cease operations due to financial challenges
A long-time North Saanich, B.C. company that sold healthy, nut-and-gluten-free kitchen and food products globally ceased its operations at the beginning of the year, and put its entire North Saanich food facility up for sale. It relaunched shortly afterward under Canadian ownership.
6. B.C. is Burning to premiere in Kelowna, Vernon
An independent documentary on the causes and consequences of British Columbia’s escalating wildfire crisis premiered in Kelowna and Vernon in June.
7. Trucking company sues B.C. city for $27M for effectively blocking access
Trucking company, Chohan Carriers, announced it would be suing the City of Maple Ridge in B.C., and claiming some $27 million in damages, over the trucking company’s inability to operate at a site within the city.
8. U.S. Coast Guard vessels cause concern at Port Alberni marina
When a bunch of American Naval personnel unloaded U.S. Coast Guard vessels at Clutesi Haven Marina in Port Alberni, B.C. on a Monday in June, social media sites blew up with rumours about why they were on Vancouver Island and why there were armed vessels making their way down the Alberni Inlet.
9. 5.1-magnitude earthquake shakes south coast of B.C.
A earthquake jolted some residents in B.C.’s south coast in February, but no damage was recorded and there wasn’t a concern for a tsunami. However, in July, parts of coast B.C. was hit with a tsunami advisory after an 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia.
10. Couple who lived in Penticton homeless encampment for a year survived on love
If you were walking down any Penticton, B.C. street in the middle of a nice summer day and saw Mathias Korkowski and Willow Wood walking hand-in-hand, you would likely think they are just another happy couple.
You would be correct in assuming they are a happy couple – because they are – but you would likely never guess that they’ve been living at a homeless encampment in Penticton for almost a full year.
11. Penticton man who ‘abandoned’ wife and children gets nothing from house sale
A Penticton, B.C. man who “abandoned” his wife and children for his bookkeeper was entitled to nothing after the family home was forced to be sold to cover his debts.
12. Maple Ridge family caught up in outbreak of sickness in Mexico
A Maple Ridge family got caught up in what appeared to be a mass illness while staying at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico.
13. 1,000 bikers ride to Hells Angels memorial in Surrey
An estimated 1,500 people from across Canada attended a celebration of life in Surrey, B.C. for longtime Hells Angels member Rick Ciarniello, who died in March.
14. Sold-out show cancelled, country star points blame at Kelowna venue
Rising country music star Cameron Whitcomb cancelled his second of two sold-out shows at Kelowna, B.C.’s Revelry Food and Music Hub after calling the first show a “disaster.”
15. Surrey father, 35, wins $80M in record-breaking Lotto Max draw
A B.C. 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.
16. Drugs, ammunition seized during U.S. checkpoints at B.C. border
Several days of roadblocks that delayed northbound traffic heading for B.C. resulted in several seizures of drugs and ammunition in May.
17. Good God: B.C. city’s bylaw banning blasphemy captures national attention
Is curtailing free speech and censoring blasphemous language in public spaces a relic of the past or something that must be upheld to maintain public decorum? The Canadian Constitution Foundation (CCF) thinks the former.
Although Calgary took top spot for its “Orwellian-named” Safe and Inclusive Access Bylaw, the organization gave an honourable mention to a 1997 bylaw in the Vancouver Island municipality of Saanich
18. Central Alberta driver training school for truckers shut down by Alberta government
Five commercial truck driver training schools were shut down by the province — including one school in Red Deer County — to improve safety in the trucking industry at the beginning of the year.
19. ‘Whale’ of a sturgeon caught by Chilliwack-based fishing charter company
After more than a decade of eluding fishermen, a Chilliwack-based fishing charter company has finally caught and landed “Ghost.”
20. From the ashes of wildfires, the snakes of the North slither on
Canada’s frozen territory is home to the Northernmost population of garter snakes known in North America, and in May they were getting ready to enjoy the short summer.
21. Highway Thru Hell star Jamie Davis grateful to reach 200th episode
“It’s definitely a milestone for sure,” Highway Thru Hell star Jamie Davis said. “A lot has changed over the years. And I don’t think anybody really expected (the show) to go so long.
The Canadian docuseries aired the milestone episode in March.
22. Alberta premier calls Trump tariffs on Canada/Alberta an ‘important win’
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said in April that U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to honour much of a trade treaty he signed with Canada is an “important win.”
However, that decision to honour much of the trade treaty went back and forth over the ensuing months, with different tariffs and duties announced and then changed several times over.
23. VIDEO: ‘I was on a airplane’ says missing Chilliwack girl when reunited with family
Lily Coursol, a six-year-old Chilliwack girl who was missing for 24 hours, was captured on video as she was reunited with family in May.
24. Choking child in Kelowna’s DeHart Park saved by doctor unable to work in Canada
A peaceful afternoon at a Kelowna, B.C. park turned into a life-or-death moment on June 27, when a little boy began choking and was saved by a woman with years of medical training she can’t yet use in Canada.
25. ‘Sorry’ U.S. border towns hurting as B.C. crossings drop nearly 43%
As a global trade war rocked the stock markets and made near-daily headlines throughout 2025, Americans just across the B.C.-Washington border had a message for their Canadian counterparts: We’re here when you’re ready.
The trend of declining travel to the U.S. from Canada continued through the year, with a more-than-90-per-cent drop in traffic at one B.C. border crossing on Black Friday.