It’s the last day of 2018, and the perfect time to reflect on an eventful year.
Before entering the penultimate year of the decade, we took a moment to compile a list of the most-read articles of each month.
Whether you’re ringing in the new year with a massive celebration or just curling up at home and saying hello to 2019 all cozy and comfortable, Victoria Buzz wishes you well in the year to come.
Without further ado, here are the top 12 articles of 2018.
January
2018 started with a bang as a massive storm swept across Vancouver Island.
Island residents were in for a show as record-breaking waves of over 9.5 metres high crashed in the Ucluelet and Tofino area, and we compiled some of the best shots of that day.
February
February’s top story is a somber one, as a sexual assault of a child made headlines across the island.
The incident occurred at the Bay Centre, when an approximately 40-year-old man followed two girls into the shopping centre and waited until they were alone to sexually assault one of them. While there are a few security camera pictures of the suspect, he was not found at the time.
March
Vancouver Island is blessed to be surrounded by diverse wildlife, but not all wild creatures are friendly.
March’s top article focused on a video posted to YouTube by Vancouver Island hunter Adam Bartsch, which shows a tense encounter with a massive cougar.
This article was the third highest viewed of the month, and recounts a tale of pepperoni, seagulls, and chaos all in the prestigious Empress Hotel.
April
The most viewed article of April 2018 claimed its spot by a landslide, and also happened to be an April fool’s joke.
“When asked by Victoria Buzz about their feelings on the new bike lane project, one driver declined to comment but proceeded to park his car and scream audibly at his steering wheel for several minutes.”
Hard hitting journalism at its finest.
May
In a month marked by a number of violent attacks, Victorians seemed to be most interested in drag queens hitting the stage.
RuPaul’s Drag Race is an Emmy award-winning reality TV series that has contestants competing in various (usually fashion related) challenges each week. Contestants and season winners stopped by Victoria in September.
June
A head-on collision sadly claimed one life on the Malahat back in June.
A female driver who police believe was impaired was travelling northbound when her vehicle collided with a car that was travelling southbound. The male driver of the southbound vehicle was pronounced dead, and his wife who was in the car with him was transported to hospital with serious injuries.
July
Gunter Kiphard, a German traveller and videographer from Frankfurt, made his way to Vancouver Island this summer and released a stunning 10 minute video of our island’s natural beauty.
The video is filmed in 4k, and includes drone footage of Ucluelet and Tofino, as well as intimate views of orcas, humpbacks, and more.
“I experience the beauty this world has to offer like I never did before,” says Gunter in his smokey and baritone narration.
August
The Malahat was the centre of attention again in August, as a dashcam video of a close call on Highway 1 went viral.
The video shows a vehicle turning left across the southbound lanes to enter the northbound side of the highway, and captures another truck on the northbound lanes narrowly avoiding the entering vehicle.
Forest fires blazed across BC this summer, and while Vancouver Island avoided the brunt of the flames it did receive its share of smoky, surreal skies.
September
Victoria’s interest was certainly piqued by this seemingly ordinary Fairfield home.
For a cheeky $1.5 million, you could own this four bedroom, four bathroom, spacious suite with skylights, a large garden, en-suites, an ocean view, and of course, a sex dungeon.
The home is divided into an upper level-level suite for the owners, and a Bed & Breakfast downstairs for guests.
Victorians really did seem enamored with this home, as this article was Victoria Buzz’s most viewed article for all of 2018.
October
A series of strong earthquakes rocked the waters near Vancouver Island in October.
No tsunami warnings were issued at the time, but earthquake experts say that the quakes would have caused major damage had they been closer to land.
November
In early November MacLean’s released its annual list of the most dangerous places to live in Canada.
Our article focused on the five-year change of crime severity in given communities, while the MacLean’s list includes the most criminally active urban centres across the country.
December
One of Victoria’s favourite Christmas displays moved from its residential location to Merridale Cidery, and people took notice.
The display includes over 100 pieces of Yuletide keepsakes, including a 1956 fire engine, huge inflatables that stand 30 feet high, life-sized reindeer carrying Santa’s sleigh, and more.
Editor’s pick: 13 photos of the damage caused by Thursday’s wind storms on Vancouver Island (PHOTOS/VIDEOS)
The windstorms that swept through Vancouver Island and BC’s south coast were some of the worst in years. While the storms made life difficult for many islanders, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands, the high winds also made prime opportunities for storm watchers and photographers alike.
