Sudbury

These were CBC Sudbury's most read stories of 2024

At CBC Sudbury, our most popular stories have covered everything from the unusual, to the untimely death of a city councillor.

Story detailing plans for a reality television show about renovating Canada’s biggest abandoned home

A promotional poster for a show with people holding tools in their hands.
CBC Sudbury's most read story for 2024 was about a potential reality television series called 'Mansion Impossible', about renovating Canada's biggest abandoned house. (Submitted by David Woodside)

Stories about the U.S. Presidential Election, wildfires in western Canada and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's political fortunes, or misfortunes, have dominated headlines this year.

However, in terms of local news, at CBC Sudbury, our most popular stories have covered everything from the unusual, to the untimely death of a city councillor.

Below are the five most read stories in our region.

A man with dark hair, wearing a black shirt and orange jacket, sits and looks at the camera.
Former Sudbury Coun. Michael Vagnini's body was discovered in a seasonal residence in Atikameksheng Anishnawbek in northern Ontario. (Martha Dillman/CBC)

5. Sudbury, Ont., Coun. Michael Vagnini found dead near a seasonal residence in Atikameksheng Anishnawbek

After he had gone missing for more than two weeks, Sudbury city Coun. Michael Vagnini was found dead at a seasonal residence in Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, around a 25-minute drive west of Sudbury.

Before his body was discovered, his home community of Lively held a public vigil where friends and community members expressed their hope he would be found alive.

The search for Vagnini, and the eventual news that he was found dead, garnered widespread media attention in Sudbury.

A man and woman holding a giant cheque that says $70 million on it.
Kyle Murray and Jennifer Stuart-Flynn are the winners of the $70-million LOTTO MAX draw on Aug. 20. (Ontario Lottery and Gaming)

4. New parents from northern Ontario win $70M Lotto Max draw with 1st-ever lottery ticket purchase

On a happier note, the year's fourth most read story was about a new parents from Iroquois Falls who won the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot.

Kyle Murray told Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation he bought his first-ever lottery ticket after picking up his mom at the Timmins airport so she could meet her new grandchild.

His partner, Jennifer Stuart-Flynn, got emotional thinking about their children's futures.

"I realize that my kids are going to have a way different life than I had growing up," she said.

A man in a wet suit holds up a bottle of booze .
Jason Ploeger holds up a bottle of whiskey that he recovered from a sunken taxi in Larder Lake following a 35-year search. (Submitted by Jason Ploeger)

3. Northern Ontario man solves local legend, finds long-lost vintage liquor at bottom of a lake

Unique and unusual stories are often popular with readers, and Erik White, the producer for CBC Radio's Morning North had a story that covered all of those bases with his profile of Jason Ploeger.

Ploeger achieved a long-standing goal when he finally found a taxi cab that sank to the bottom of Larder Lake. The taxi had been at the bottom of the lake since 1937, and contained some bottles of whisky that were still intact.

Two women wearing black stand at a grocery store checkout counter.
A Vancouver No Frills store locking up cheese sparked discussions about whether it signals larger issues related to rising grocery prices and food insecurity. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press)

2. Economics professor says No Frills store's decision to lock up cheese speaks to broader societal issues

CBC reporter Rajpreet Sahota spoke with a Laurentian University economics professor who was commenting on news that a No Frills store in Vancouver had locked up some cheese wedges to deter would-be thieves.

The professor argued the store's actions also spoke to people's desperation due to rising grocery prices.

When will a platform pick up a reality TV show about Canada's largest abandoned house?

2 months ago
Duration 2:42
While ‘Mansion Impossible’ producers persist in pitching the story of the infamous Grant mansion to online platforms and TV networks, vandals continue to trespass on the property to break windows and put graffiti on the walls.

1. No buyer yet for series documenting the revamp of Canada's largest abandoned house

CBC Sudbury's most read story of 2024 was reporter Aya Dufour's account of a potential reality television show documenting the renovation of Canada's largest abandoned house, located in Haileybury, Ont..

Mansion Impossible was still looking for a buyer to purchase a series order.