From Christy Clark’s surprise runaway victory in the provincial election to the shocking and sudden death of ‘Glee’ star Cory Monteith, it’s been a busy news year in British Columbia.
The editorial team at CTV British Columbia has compiled a list of the news stories they felt were the most important this year in the province. Take a look:
Surprise re-election of Christy Clark
You could have knocked pollsters over with a feather. After months of polling predicting a May shoo-in election victory for New Democrat Adrian Dix, the BC Liberals battled back and won with a majority throughout most of the province.
Some people blamed the NDP election loss on Dix’s refusal to run negative ads against the opposition, who hammered him with attack ads questioning his integrity, character and morals in the final weeks before voting. Dix announced his resignation as party leader in Sept., although his replacement won't be chosen until late 2014.
Meanwhile, Clark’s May victory signaled a dramatic change in her likeability. With a low approval rating heading into the provincial vote, she was voted the second most-popular Premier in Canada a month after clinching the election win.
- BC Liberals win majority, but Christy Clark loses her seat
- Adrian Dix to step down as B.C. NDP Leader
‘Glee’ star Cory Monteith fatally overdoses in Vancouver hotel
The sudden death of "Glee" actor Cory Monteith sent shockwaves throughout Canada and Hollywood after the rising star’s body was discovered in a luxury downtown Vancouver hotel suite in July.
It was later revealed the 31-year-old died from a combination of shooting heroin and drinking alcohol.
The Victoria-raised actor was quite open about his past substance abuse problems, which spurred his involvement with youth-focused charities including Project Limelight, a free theatre program for children living in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
- Friends, family in shock after 'Glee' star found dead in Vancouver hotel room
- Cory Monteith injected his fatal dose of heroin: coroner
Vancouverite found dead in hotel water tank in Los Angeles
The disappearance of Simon Fraser University student Elisa Lam while on a California vacation was nothing short of an international mystery. After having daily contact with her parents, the student went missing in late January while staying at a hotel near Los Angeles’ skid row, and police were quick to appeal to the public for information about what happened to her. Surveillance video released by the Cecil Hotel showed Lam acting strangely in one of their elevators the last night she was seen by staff: pushing several buttons, hiding in a corner and then peering into the hallway.
On Feb. 19 – 20 days after she was last seen -- her body was found inside one of the hotel’s rooftop water tanks while a maintenance worker was investigating complaints from guests about low water pressure. Her death was ruled an accidental drowning and authorities listed the young woman’s previously undisclosed bi-polar disorder as a significant condition in her death. It was never revealed how Lam got onto the hotel roof, which is protected by an alarm and a locked door.
- Was Elisa Lam murdered or the victim of a strange accident?
- Elisa Lam’s LA death ruled an accidental drowning
Terror plot foiled at the BC Legislature
The alleged plot was terrifying and potentially devastating. Police say John Nuttall and his girlfriend Amanda Korody hatched an “al Qaeda-inspired plan” to use pressure cooker bombs to target Canada Day festivities in front of the B.C. Legislature building in Victoria.
At the time, RCMP described the pair as "self-radicalized" and inspired by an "al Qaeda ideology." Mounties said homemade bombs were similar to the ones used during the Boston Bombings in April, though investigators said the devices connected to the B.C. plot were inert and could not have exploded.
A lawyer for Nuttall said his client had been “certified” under mental health laws and should not be found criminally responsible.
- B.C. terror suspect could plead not criminally responsible: lawyer
- Surrey man, woman charged in alleged plot to bomb B.C. Legislature
Massive fire decimates downtown New Westminster
It started with a small fire at a Vietnamese restaurant at 4 a.m. on Oct. 10. Within four hours, at least forty businesses and a century of history was destroyed. The massive blaze tore through heritage buildings at an alarming rate, leveling coffee shops, bridal stores and office buildings.
One of the most historic businesses to go was Copp’s Shoes, which had operated on Columbia St. for 85 years.
Documents obtained by CTV News revealed the blaze was being investigated as a possible arson. Several propane tanks were left behind on a roof and exploded during the fire, causing a hazard for the dozens of firefighters rushing to contain the inferno.
- New West storeowners devastated after fire tears through downtown
- Exclusive: New West fire probed as possible arson
Surrey breaks homicide records
A suspicious death at a so-called after-hours “booze can” on Nov. 18 brought the city of Surrey, B.C.’s homicide rate to an-all time high, a grim record Mayor Dianne Watts vowed to address with a new task force. Surrey’s murder rate hit 25 with the beating death of hockey mom Julie Paskall on Dec. 30. The 53-year-old was left near dead after being attacked outside a Newton arena, and was taken off life support by her family the next day.
- Mom attacked outside B.C. hockey arena dies in hospital
- Suspicious death set to break Surrey’s homicide record
Sex assaulter on the loose at UBC
Six sex assaults on the University of B.C. prompted police and staff to initiate unprecedented security measures at the usually serene Vancouver campus. RCMP set up two separate tip lines, sent out a suspect sketch and beefed up Mountie presence to address the linked assaults, which happened in April, May, Sept. and Oct. In each case, the victim was walking alone, late at night, when she was jumped from behind, groped, and one woman was also punched in the face.
- Sketch of UBC sex assault suspect nets 78 tips as police seek clues
- 3 more sex assaults against young women at UBC campus, total now 6
Related: Read our picks for B.C.'s best quirky news stories of 2013
