From the awful to the awesome and the heart-warming and to the horrifying, certain local stories resonated with online readers in 2016. Here's a sampling of some of the year's most-viewed Citizen stories:
Man jailed after impregnating girl
When a 66-year-old was sentenced to six years in prison for raping an 11-year-old girl, the outrage was immediate - at the crime and also what some perceived as a small sentence. The repeated abuse left the young girl pregnant and the DNA of the aborted fetus was used to convict the man, a close friend of her family, in January. This shocking story was by far The Citizen's most read story online.
Clown hoax
A social media hoax from an online clown account threatening Prince George schools prompted a near district-wide lockdown in October. For hours parents waited for updates before the lockdown was lifted in the afternoon and Prince George RCMP announced it had arrested and charged a 16-year-old boy.
Homolka's children face terrilbe dilemma
When Neil Godbout penned an editorial in early May, it wasn't your typical Mother's Day story. Convicted serial killer Karla Homolka, now Leanne Bordelais, didn't deserve freedom and certainly didn't deserve love from her three children, Godbout argued. Justice would be their eventual rejection of her as a mother.
"They will not lose their parents but rather the lie that is their parent sand their childhood."
City mourns loss of Matt Pearce
Sports reporter Ted Clarke's exhaustive obituary chronicling the impact of beloved teacher, coach and community leader Matt Pearce touched Citizen readers. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers draft pick was remembered for his athletic excellence as well as his union work advocating for teachers - a "lightning rod" during the 2012 strike. Remembered for his honour, activism, humour and leadership, readers shared Pearce's story far and wide.
Flag person hit, killed by truck
Linda Magnussen was remembered by her son for her meticulous approach to safety, her straight-forward manner and sense of humour. The 59-year-old died after she was struck by a CN Rail truck in August while conducting traffic control at a work site in the Hart. Magnussen worked as a flag person for Guardian Angels for at least 15 years and also had a passion operating fishing charters.
Bible camp LGBTQ policy controversy
Ness Lake Bible Camp's policies became a focus of community contention in July when The Citizen reported School District 57 had stopped using its services. Student and longtime volunteer Julianna Ferguson came forward when she was told she couldn't work with campers because of her public support for the LGBTQ community. And, the president of Prince George Pride Society was told she couldn't speak about gender at Rotary event, prompting a discussion on religious freedom and discrimination. Ness Lake has since developed a discrimination and harassment prevention policy and in November asked the school board to reconsider its ban on using the local camp for school activities.
Teenager killed in two-vehicle crash
In the days after the tragic death of a 15-year-old girl at Highway 16 and Vance Road, the Ministry of Transportation said it would address the deadly intersection. In the fall the ministry started construction of the left-turn signal at the spot as well as Highway 16 and Ferry Road, for a total project cost of $500,000.
Response to call for 'white pride'
Despite being published in 2015, a popular editorial by Neil Godbout took a top spot again among 2016 readers. When a reader left an angry message asking why The Citizen isn't more focused on white pride, Godbout wrote: "(in) Prince George and in Canada, we're surrounded by so much white culture that it's the equivalent of standing in the middle of a forest and asking where the trees are."
For this editorial and others discussing reaction to the renaming of Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park, this year Godbout was nominated for a prestigious National Newspaper Award.
Two plead guilty to Bjornson's murder
Four years after Fribjon Bjornson was murdered, in August his killers admitted guilt in a Prince George court. Wesley Dennis Duncan and Jesse Darren Bird - who were arrested in November 2013 - both pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the Vanderhoof man's death and are awaiting sentencing. In December Teresa Marie Charlie was found guilty of accessory after the fact to murder.
Snowmobiler killed in avalanche
A Prince George snowmobiler who died in a January avalanche was remembered as a warm and generous man who loved being outside. The slide swept a party of five snowmobiling east of the city, killing 41-year-old Angelo Kenneth Carpino. The experienced rider was remembered for his generosity and his smile.
Bear attack survivor tells his story
Paul Gilbert relived the hell he went through after a black bear attack, which left his calf muscle gouged, a maw mark on his shoulder, some streaks down the flesh of his back and a gap between his biceps and forearm flexors where most people have an elbow. For The Citizen, Gilbert recalled the flash of seconds during the attack - close-ups of fur, teeth, rank breath, ear-splitting blasts and metallic smoke. Through quick-thinking from his friend Dave Trepanier and one of their teenage sons, the bear was shot point-blank from inside the cot.
And there's more...
Other top-reads include - in no particular order - two UNBC graduate students who were arrested for protests in North Dakota; reports that Prince George's population is shrinking; Connaught Motor Inn's business license suspension; a West Fraser foreman fired for squabble with ex-wife decides to sue the company; a local RCMP officer's efforts to build his own sweat lodge for first responders; a bear attack victim that credited a dog for cutting the mauling short; and bystanders who helped lift a car off a crash victim and save her life and really any court case The Citizen covers.
