CBC year in review: the 14 most-read stories of 2014
You compiled this list, in a way.
Unlike Newsmaker of the Year or other year-end retrospectives, our rundown of the top 14 stories in 2014 required no editorial decisions or judgment calls. It's simply the stories that CBC News readers viewed more than any others, starting with a tragedy that was our single most read story ever.
1. Ottawa shooting
The story:
An armed attacker fatally wounds a Canadian Forces member at the National War Memorial before being shot dead in Parliament's Centre Block.
The quote:
"Let there be no misunderstanding. We will not be intimidated. Canada will never be intimidated." - Prime Minister Stephen Harper
2. Moncton shooting
The story:
Police scour a locked-down Moncton, N.B., looking for the shooter of three slain RCMP officers.
The quote:
"This is working through your worst nightmare." - Roger Brown, RCMP assistant commissioner
3. Robin Williams dies
The story:
Iconic actor-comedian Robin Williams is found dead of an apparent suicide in California.
The quote:
"Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between. But he was one of a kind." - U.S. President Barack Obama
4. Calgary stabbing
The story:
Matthew de Grood, the man suspected of fatally stabbing four men and a woman at a northwest Calgary house party, is charged with five counts of first-degree murder.
The quote:
"This is the worst mass murder in Calgary's history." - Calgary Police Services Chief Rick Hanson
5. JianGhomeshi
The story:
Q host Jian Ghomeshi leaves the CBC with little explanation, kicking off a scandal that will culminate with sexual assault charges against the former radio host.
The quote:
"... I have nothing to hide." - Jian Ghomeshi, in a Facebook posting
6. The Nathan O'Brien case
The story:
Douglas Garland, the man suspected in the murders of three Calgary family members, including five-year-old Nathan O'Brien, arrives at the Calgary Police Service arrest processing unit to face multiple murder charges.
The quote:
"There's always a glimmer of hope and unfortunately with the laying of the charges we've taken that away from the family. They're devastated." - Calgary Police Services Chief Rick Hanson
7. Dead babies discovered in Winnipeg
The story:
Police in Winnipeg find several dead babies inside a Winnipeg storage locker.
The quote:
"How does that even happen, when you sneak four infants into a storage unit and nobody sees it, nobody knows?" - Barrington Francis, who rents a storage unit in the same facility
8. Malaysia Airlines tragedies
The stories:
Malaysia Airlines had the misfortune of losing two aircraft in the same year: one shot down over Ukraine and the other mysteriously disappearing without a trace. Coincidentally, the two tragedies ranked side by side on CBC's most-viewed stories of the year.
The quotes:
"We are sure that those guilty in this tragedy will be held responsible." - Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko, on MH17
"We know much more about the surface of the moon than we do about the ocean floor in that part of the Indian Ocean." - David Ferreira, an oceanographer, on the search for MH370
9. 'Sergeant' Franck Gervais
The story:
The Department of National Defence says Franck Gervais, a man who claimed to be a decorated soldier during this year's Remembrance Day ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, is not a member of the Canadian Forces.
The quote:
"The thing that really irks me about him is he has a medal for bravery on." - Jake Flanders, Airborne Regiment Association of Canada
10. Jim Flaherty dies
The story:
Former finance minister Jim Flaherty dies suddenly, just weeks after resigning from federal cabinet.
The quote:
"You could differ with him, but you never ever doubted his absolute commitment to serving the people of Canada." - Liberal MP Scott Brison
11. Philip Seymour Hoffman dies
The story:
Philip Seymour Hoffman, one of the leading actors of his generation, is found dead in his Manhattan apartment of a drug overdose.
The quote:
"Today New York mourns the loss of one of stage and screen's greats." - New York Mayor Bill de Blasio
12. Apple product release
The story:
Apple unveils larger smartphones, a smartwatch and mobile payments, amid questions over whether the company still has a knack for innovation following the 2011 death of co-founder Steve Jobs.
The quote:
"One more thing..." - Apple CEO Tim Cook, stealing a line from late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, to cheers from the crowd.
13. Winter rant
The story:
An unidentified caller gives CBC Radio's Morning Edition in Saskatchewan a blast about wind, winter and having to endure it year after year.
The quote:
"I get the funny feeling that you guys are just saying [the weather is nice] so that people won't just end it." - unidentified caller to CBC, on Saskatchewan's winter weather
14. U.S. police shakedown
The story:
In our most-read analysis of 2014, senior Washington correspondent Neil Macdonald writes about how U.S. police are operating a coordinated scheme to seize as much of the public’s cash as they can.
The quote:
"There’s a shakedown going on in the U.S., and the perps are in uniform." - Neil Macdonald
