Top 10 London stories that made you want to read more in 2024
Canadians learned a lot about London and region this past year
What a year! London, Ont., made headlines across Canada in 2024 with stories of tragedy, intriguing court cases, curiosities and many more. Here are the 10 most-read stories published at CBC London this past year.
10. 'What I did was very wrong,' Ontario woman who faked pregnancies with many doulas tells sentencing court
An Ontario woman, Kaitlyn Braun, who faked pregnancies and fraudulently sought the help of numerous doulas took full accountability for "the hurt and the pain" she caused at her sentencing hearing at the start of 2024. Doulas described feeling traumatized and losing income. Braun will face further charges in 2025, and is the subject of a new CBC podcast being released in January.
9. Public health officials warn swimmers to think twice before wading into southwestern Ontario beaches
Water quality was a big issues this past summer with warnings popping up at beaches around the region. Public health officials encouraged people to take precautions after a week of high E. coli levels that had the potential to make swimmers sick.
8. Why the northern lights have been lighting up southwestern Ontario skies
Sightings of the northern lights — known as the aurora borealis — were common in early October with many of you sharing photos and talking about the spectacular skies. Here's a look at what astronomers said was behind the increased auroral activity.
7. London, Ont., teen dies in hospital days after being stabbed in case of intimate partner violence
Breanna Broadfoot, 17, died in hospital two days after she was stabbed in an incident that involved a domestic violence call and ended in the fatal shooting of her London, Ont., boyfriend. Her family, including her brother, have since gone on to advocate for an end to intimate partner violence. London Police Chief Thai Truong spoke publicly after Broadfoot's death saying it is a significant threat to the safety and well-being of the community.
6. Driver found guilty of all counts in London, Ont., crash that killed 8-year-old girl guide and injured 7
The 79-year-old driver of a car that ran into a troop of girl guides in 2021, killing an eight-year-old girl and injuring others, was found guilty in April of criminal negligence causing death and seven counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm. Petronella McNorgan's three week trial was challenging for the victims and their families. She was later sentenced to two years less a day of house arrest, followed by three years of probation that includes a driving ban.
5. London, Ont., woman killed in roadside gunpoint robbery in Mexico
A London, Ont., woman who lived in Mexico for close to a decade was shot and killed during a roadside robbery while driving home to Canada, according to friends and local news reports. Those who loved Gabriele Schart spoke to CBC News in this story about what may have happened as she was trying to drive home with her dogs.
4. Calls for answers after train on fire rolls through downtown London, Ont.
What a night for witnesses who saw a flaming Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway train barrelling toward downtown London, Ont., late at night in April. No one was hurt after wooden railway ties inside five cars caught fire but there were a lot of questions being asked in the days following. In November, the city released this report on the cost and lessons learned.
3. 5 former Canadian world junior hockey players now face sexual assault charges
In January, Michael McLeod and Cal Foote of the New Jersey Devils, Dillon Dubé of the Calgary Flames and Carter Hart of the Philadelphia Flyers, and Alex Formenton were charged with sexual assault for an alleged crime that took place in 2018 in London. This is the story where the news first broke. The trial for the former world junior players will get underway in April 2025.
2. Guide dog owner says Louie may be her last unless behaviour of 'service dogs' changes
Avril Rinn, of London, Ont., is legally blind and Louie is her trusty guide dog, allowing her the freedom of independence. In this story, Rinn explains that she is leaning toward not getting another guide dog after Louis is gone because increasingly when she and the dog are in stores, restaurants and other indoor public spaces, Rinn is often not the only person with a dog, and lately she hasn't been welcome.
1. Busloads of sorority girls, strippers, parties: Neighbours fuming about Airbnb-rented home
Neighbours of a London, Ont., home often rented on Airbnb for weekend parties spoke out loudly in September about how short-term rentals are not working in residential neighbourhoods. In this instance, at 167 Sunnyside Dr., near Masonville Place, young university women were being dropped off on a Saturday morning by the busload for a two-day sorority event.