With 2016 coming to a close, news junkies can expect to see a flurry of year-in-review coverage and top 10 lists encapsulating all the big stories that have occurred over the last 12 months.
But these lists, often put together by reporters and editors who consider stories by the impact they have on the community and other criteria, do not always align with the headlines readers are clicking on the most on their computers or mobile devices.
Here, then, is a compilation of the top stories from tricitynews.com based on page views counted by Google analytics.
1. Teaching self-regulation in schools (Feb. 5)
The story that received the most clicks in 2016 was about the self-regulation techniques teachers are using in the classroom to help children calm down and focus on learning. The story received a lot of interest online and on social media, and was the most popular piece, according to the Google analytics data.
2. Noise annoys on Burke Mountain in Coquitlam (April 18)
Last April, a Burke Mountain mother received a noise violation bylaw warning from the city of Coquitlam after her children were heard screaming and yelling while playing outside. The family believed it was being unfairly punished while some nearby residents and city officials said there had been numerous complaints about loud and unsafe behaviour before the warning ticket was issued.
3. Austin Station Thrifty Foods to close April 25 (Jan. 21)
Tri-City News readers took a keen interest in the comings and goings of local businesses. Last January was no different, when the Thrifty Foods at Austin Avenue and Mariner Way — the anchor tenant for Austin Station — announced it would close its doors in the spring. Area residents were relieved to later learn they would still have a grocery store after Save-On-Foods announced it would move into the location, where it is now operating.
4. Summer school registration nears (April 19)
It was not just high school students enrolling in summer school programs in 2016 in an effort to boost a grade or free up some time during their regular school year. According to an April 19 story, half of the 6,000 students who took summer courses were from kindergarten to Grade 8 while 1,800 were students in Grades 11 and 12.
5. Port Coquitlam imam found guilty of 2013 sexual assault (June 2)
Port Coquitlam mosque director Saadeldin Bahr, known in the community as Dr. Saad, was found guilty of sexual assault last summer. The incident that led to the charges occurred at the Masjid Al-Hidayah and Islamic Cultural Centre in 2013 and the victim was a woman that Bahr had been counselling. He was expected to be sentenced in November but was unable to attend the hearing due to health problems. Bahr is now expected to go back before the judge for his sentencing hearing on Feb. 27, 2017, with the sentence to be pronounced some time after that.
6. Pinetree student dies in motorcycle crash (May 9)
James Vo, a 17-year-old from Coquitlam, was killed in a motorcycle collision while making a left-hand turn at Pinetree Way and David Avenue. A fundraising page that was launched for the teen’s family at gofundme.com raised more than $10,000.
7. Shock over sudden death of New View executive director (March 10)
Friends, family and the Tri-City community were shocked to hear of the sudden death of Jill Calder, the executive director of the New View Society, who was killed when a tree fell on her Port Moody home during a wind storm. Calder had been with the society for 16 years and, prior to that, had worked in the Port Coquitlam mayor’s office.
8. Mother bear and two cubs killed in Port Moody (April 14)
Bear conflicts were a big story once again for Tri-City residents in 2016. In April, a sow and two cubs were destroyed by conservation officers after the bruins were seen entering yards and garages while searching for food. Local city governments have been reminding residents to secure their garbage and other animal attractants.
9. Police incident unfolding in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam (June 16)
A bomb threat at the 3030 Gordon homeless shelter in Coquitlam led to the arrest of a 25-year-old man in June. The incident prompted the evacuation of the shelter and several businesses in the surrounding area. The RCMP Explosive Disposal Unit was called to the scene but no explosive devices were found.
10. Mall redevelopment in works in Coquitlam (Nov. 18)
The company that oversees Coquitlam Centre shopping mall has initiated talks with the city about redeveloping a portion of the property. Morguard said in November it is looking at ways of introducing mixed-use developments near Lincoln Station as part of a master plan for the entire site. The company said the plan would guide development on the land for the next 50 to 70 years.
@gmckennaTC
