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Yes, it's been a whole year since Huffington Post B.C. was launched. And what a year!
We've seen the remarkable comeback of Premier Christy Clark, the tragic deaths of Amanda Todd and Cory Monteith, and the scathing outcome of the Missing Women's Inquiry.
Heartfelt inspiration was in abundance with stories such as Victoria teen Google Science Fair finalist Ann Makosinski, beauty queen Patricia Celan shaving off her hair in aid of cancer research, and quadriplegic student Jessica Kruger winning the Lise Watier "Something Sweet" modelling competition.
Our blogger community blossomed as they tackled the stories that matter to us all as British Columbians. Jarrah Hodge wrote with passion on Amanda Todd, Sandy Garossino slapped Facebook hard over their rape policy, and Mike Klassen called the B.C. election for the Liberals when everyone from here to the planet Krypton thought he'd completely lost the plot.
Below, we look back at some of our best stories, front-page splashes and blogs.
But not before we thank you, our wonderful readers for joining us on this fantastic journey, and for sharing and engaging with our stories on Twitter and Facebook. Let's do it all over again!
Check out the slideshow of our best front pages, stories and blogs below:
Best Of HuffPost B.C.'s First Year
Jun. 12, 2013(01 of77)
Opposition New Democrats leaked a document signed by a Liberal cabinet minister approving pay increases for the government's top bureaucrats.
July 28, 2013(02 of77)
As an international boycott of Russian vodka to protest the country's new anti-gay laws builds up steam, Vancouver Pride organizers called for an indefinite boycott of all Russian exports across the city.
July 11, 2013(03 of77)
After losing her seat in Vancouver-Point Grey to NDP's David Eby, Christy Clark won her byelection seat in Kelowna-Westside.
Apr. 22, 2013(04 of77)
B.C. NDP leader Adrian Dix cautiously stayed out of the heated Kinder Morgan debate until one week after the election writ dropped.
July 24, 2013(05 of77)
In one year, the giant hogweed has doubled its population in the Lower Mainland, forcing officials to step up measures to remove the invasive, toxic plant.
Apr. 16, 2013(06 of77)
On day one of the provincial election, Kelowna-Mission candidate Dayleen Van Ryswyk was forced to resign from the NDP after "hateful" online comments she made about First Nations and French-speaking Canadians were leaked.
May 14, 2013(07 of77)
The "Comeback Kid" won the election and discredited pollsters' predictions about a landslide NDP win.
Apr. 17, 2013(08 of77)
After online backlash around HootSuite's intern policy, the Vancouver-based tech company approved back pay to some of their unpaid helpers.
Jun. 26, 2013(09 of77)
It was all about jobs, jobs, jobs in Premier Christy Clark's 17-minute throne speech on June. 26.
Jun. 13, 2013(10 of77)
B.C. NDP leader Adrian Dix called his return to the provincial legislature bittersweet after losing an election his party predicted win.
Jan. 22, 2103(11 of77)
Vancouver was announced as host city for the inaugural Times of India Film Awards.
Sept. 26, 2012(13 of77)
B.C. Premier Christy Clark invited her Alberta counterpart for a sit-down meeting. But the invitation to Alison Redford isn't exactly a thaw in the relationship that grew frosty over B.C.'s five demands that must be met before the province will support Enbridge's bid to build the Northern Gateway pipeline.
Nov. 23, 2012(14 of77)
The Victoria federal byelection has become a messy, smelly and often rancorous campaign with sewage treatment — specifically, Victoria's lack of it — emerging as the primary campaign issue.
Dec. 8, 2012(15 of77)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper ended months of market uncertainty by approving the foreign takeovers of Calgary-based Nexen Inc. and Progress Energy Resources Corp. but insisted future appropriations by state-owned firms in the oilsands would become the exception rather than rule. China's CNOOC and Malaysia's Petronas, both Asian state-controlled enterprises, received approval as part of a wide-ranging update of foreign-takeover rules.
Dec. 17, 2012(16 of77)
Greater Vancouver posted the country's worst new home listings in November, the Canadian Real Estate Association said.
Nov. 19, 2012(17 of77)
Three former Budget Rent a Car employees allege the Vancouver-area operation systematically and intentionally rips off customers, by grossly overcharging for minor repairs that sometimes aren’t even done.
Oct. 1, 2012(18 of77)
This is not a story of Tibet or the Amazon, of life on the Arctic ice or in the searing sands of the Sahara. It is a story of my own backyard, a land known to the Tahltan people and all the First Nations of British Columbia as the Sacred Headwaters, the birthplace of the three great free flowing salmon rivers of home, the Stikine, Skeena and Nass.
Aug. 21, 2012(19 of77)
A dazzling video has hit the Internet in response to a promotional ad by Enbridge that omitted about 1,000 kilometres of islands along B.C.'s Douglas Channel.
Oct. 3, 2012(20 of77)
Age be damned. An elderly Vancouver couple successfully climbed Africa's highest mountain, becoming the oldest known couple to do so.
Oct. 11, 2012(21 of77)
Amanda Todd, a Vancouver-area teen who used YouTube to share her heart-wrenching story of being bullied online and beaten at school has killed herself, unleashing a torrent of social media condolences and soul-searching.
Sept. 3, 2012(22 of77)
Summer officially draws to a close as The Fair at Vancouver's Pacific National Exhibition wraps up.
Aug. 17, 2012(23 of77)
Vancouver's Rev. Gary Paterson has been elected moderator of the United Church of Canada, marking the first time that position has been held by an openly gay person.
Aug. 27, 2012(24 of77)
Lydia Ko, 15, ran away with the Canadian Women's Open to become the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history and only the fifth amateur champion.
Sept. 26, 2012(25 of77)
The sisters of a woman slain on the so-called Highway of Tears are pleading with the public for help, one day after RCMP announced a U.S. convict was likely responsible for her death.
Nov. 22, 2012(26 of77)
A B.C.-based company is proposing a way to transport oil sands crude to the West Coast — without a pipeline.
Oct. 30, 2012(27 of77)
A New Democrat government would do everything in its power to extricate Canada from a controversial and imminent investment treaty with China if it turns out the agreement isn't in the best interests of Canadians, says leader Tom Mulcair.
Aug. 24, 2012(28 of77)
A scathing report to a B.C. inquiry looking into the years before the arrest of convicted killer Robert William Pickton recommends giving financial compensation to the children of Vancouver’s missing women as well as decriminalizing the sex trade.
Oct. 24, 2012(29 of77)
The newest census figures show Chinese languages and Punjabi are the dominant immigrant languages spoken in Metro Vancouver homes.
Sept. 14, 2012(30 of77)
The British Columbia government responds to nearly a quarter of all requests under freedom-of-information laws by insisting it has no records to offer, according to statistics compiled by a group that argues the dramatic increase in such cases raises serious questions about public accountability.
Sept. 12, 2012(31 of77)
Drivers of passenger cars will pay $1.50 to cross the new Port Mann Bridge when tolling starts this December, a rate 50 per cent less than originally planned.
Sept. 6, 2012(32 of77)
Corrections Canada put out a request for a proposal for a Wiccan chaplain in British Columbia who would provide about 17 hours of service a month, about an hour less service than the department says it needs for the Jewish faith.
Aug. 16, 2012(33 of77)
There will be no changes to the creation of a controversial new federal riding in Vancouver’s Lower Mainland, says a commissioner charged with redrawing B.C.’s electoral map.
Aug. 26, 2012(34 of77)
The Huffington Post B.C. caught up with Lingerie Football League BC Angels' running back Stephanie Manou before the team kicks off its season.
Aug. 29, 2012(35 of77)
From a 765 sq-foot apartment in Vancouver to a home on five acres of land in Smithers, to houseboats, here's a list of what $300,000 can buy in B.C. for August 2012.
13. Abbotsford's First-Ever Pride Parade(36 of77)
B.C.'s Bible Belt celebrated its first-ever Pride parade in Abbotsford on May 25. (credit:Getty)
12. Chinese Foreign Workers(37 of77)
B.C. unions hit the roof over HD Mining's decision to hire Chinese workers instead of Canadians at a mine near Tumbler Ridge. Labour complaints forced a federal review of the Temporary Foreign Worker program. (credit:Alamy)
11. B.C. Conservative Meltdown(38 of77)
B.C. Conservative Leader John Cummins looked like a genuine challenger to the B.C. Liberal government until his party imploded. A Tory faction tried to call for a leadership review at an annual general meeting and Cummins now finds his party's support collapsing. (credit:B.C. Conservative Party)
10. Karl Lilgert Sentenced(39 of77)
Karl Lilgert, the navigating officer who ran the Queen of the North aground off a remote B.C. island, was sentenced to four years in jail for condemning two passengers to a "watery grave."
9. Cory Monteith's Death(40 of77)
'Glee' star Cory Monteith was found dead in a Vancouver hotel room on July 13. (credit:Getty)
8. Missing Women Inquiry(41 of77)
Wally Oppal, commissioner of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry issued his long-awaited report on how police handled the Downtown Eastside missing women cases between 1997 and 2002. Recommendations included a regional police force and compensation for the children of missing and murdered women. (credit:Canadian Press)
7. Haida Gwaii Earthquake(42 of77)
A massive earthquake hit off the coast of Haida Gwaii in October. It triggered tsunami warnings and heightened concerns about B.C.'s preparedness for the "big one," a powerful quake expected to hit the southwest coast one day. It even shut off a popular hot spring. (credit:NRC)
5. Vancouver Housing Bubble Pops(43 of77)
Vancouver's housing market encountered nothing but bad news for much of the year. The value of homes listed on the Multiple Listing Service dropped 25 per cent in August from the previous year, while housing starts also fell from 2011 levels. (credit:Alamy)
4. Elisa Lam(44 of77)
After police released a video of missing UBC student Elisa Lam behaving strangely in an elevator, her body was found in a water tank on top of the Cecil Hotel in Los Angeles. (credit:LAPD)
3. B.C. Terror Plot(45 of77)
Surrey couple Amanda Korody and John Nuttall were arrested in connection to an alleged terror plot driven by "al-Qaida ideology" to blow up the province's legislature on Canada Day. (credit:Flickr/CP)
1. B.C. Election(46 of77)
She did it. Premier Christy Clark's Liberals were able to defy pollsters' prediction and win a majority government on May 14. (credit:CP)
13. Happiest Construction Worker In B.C.(47 of77)
Carry Thomas, a veteran flagger, often dances to her own unique rhythm as she directs traffic in Kamloops. "Life is too short to be grumpy," she says. (credit:YouTube)
12. Wayward Tortoise Reunited With B.C. Family(48 of77)
A 60-year-old tortoise named Alf made a "run" for it along a remote Vancouver Island highway in September. Against the odds, he was scooped up by an alert motorist, brought to a care centre and finally reunited with his family. (credit:Handout)
11. Jessica Kruger(49 of77)
Quadriplegic model and B.C. student Jessica Kruger succeeded in her bid to become the new face of Lise Watier's "Something Sweet" perfume. (credit:SFU)
10. Vancouver Island Girl's SPCA Donation(50 of77)
Vancouver Island Girl's SPCA Donation Goes Viral On Reddit Kiana, a girl from Vancouver Island, sold her stuffed animals for $40 and donated it to the B.C. SPCA so "real animals can get better care." (credit:Reddit)
9. Aboriginal Languages Reclaimed By Native Gen Y(51 of77)
Clyde Tallio, 25, is part of a movement of young aboriginals who are working to save their native languages. He's taken a leading role in trying to teach younger students in their traditional tongue. Dustin Rivers, a 22-year-old community activist, has been teaching Squamish Nation members at "Language Nights." (credit:Alamy/Flickr: UBC Library)
8. Dolphins, Rainbow Captivate Horseshoe Bay Boaters(52 of77)
A group of boaters in Horseshoe Bay got the ultimate B.C. experience when a pod of dolphins began following their water taxi back to shore — while a rainbow arched over the water. (credit:YouTube)
7. Lotto Winner Spreads Wealth Around(53 of77)
Bob Erb, a pot activist, won a $25-million Lotto Max jackpot in November. Erb, 60, shared his new wealth around Terrace, B.C., showing up unannounced at local charities and businesses, and making sizable donations. (credit:YouTube)
6. RCMP "It Gets Better' Video(54 of77)
Gay and lesbian RCMP officers in B.C.'s Lower Mainland released a powerful video sharing their struggles and personal stories. It was a rare and inspiring look into the Mounties who don't often get credit for the positive work they do. (credit:YouTube)
5. 7-Year-Old Calls 911, Saves Grandfather In Chilliwack(55 of77)
Evan Rapp, 7, was hailed as a hero for saving his grandfather with a 911 call after the man keeled over in a minivan at the side of the road in Chilliwack, B.C. in October. During the 13-minute 911 call, Raap provided details about a store and train tracks they'd passed before stopping on a gravel road. The information helped guide a police officer to the scene before an ambulance arrived. (credit:Alamy )
4. RCMP Officer Saves Suicidal Woman(56 of77)
Sechelt RCMP Const. Harrison Mohr jumped into the ocean to save a woman who tried to commit suicide. He used his crisis intervention training to calm her down and get her to talk to him. "When it comes down to it, I did what Canadians would expect any RCMP officer to do, and I'd trust any officer I work with to do the same," he said. (credit:RCMP)
3. Oldest Couple Conquer Mount Kilimanjaro(57 of77)
Age be damned. Esther Kafer, 84, and her husband Martin, 85, reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in October, becoming the oldest known couple to do so, according to the Alzheimer's Society of B.C. Motivated by the rapid advancement of Martin's sister's dementia, the couple took part in the climb to help raise money for the society. (credit:Alzheimer's Society of B.C.)
1. Patricia Celan Shaves Her Hair Off(58 of77)
What this B.C. beauty queen did next surprised everyone. Right after Patricia Celan was crowned Ms. Charity B.C., she shaved off her hair on stage.
19. Tanya Iliakis: How A Stolen Purse Led To Seattle Stealing My Heart(59 of77)
We drove to Seattle, parked right in the heart of the city, strolled over to the shopping district and headed to Nordstom for a touch of "Sex And The City" glam, browsing beautiful designer purses, sun glasses, and, of course, shoes! And that's when our chick flick turned horror story: as my friend tried on a pair of Steve Madden boots, she left her Marc Jacobs purse, shopping bags and other merchandise on a chair. She took two steps forward, glanced in the mirror to see how the boots looked and immediately realized her purse was stolen. What happened next stole our hearts. Read story. (credit:Instagram/Nordstrom)
18. Mike Klassen: Why The B.C. Liberals Will Win The Next Election(60 of77)
"You don't hear this stated much these days: The B.C. Liberals will win in 2013. You heard it here first. In one of the great resurrections in B.C. political history, on the evening of May 14, 2013 premier-elect Christy Clark will be grinning from ear to ear in front of a packed room of supporters in downtown Vancouver. She will thank her NDP opponent for running a spirited campaign, and graciously thank the voters of British Columbia for giving her a new four-year mandate." Read story. (credit:Flickr: BC Gov Photos)
17. Kash Heed: My B.C. Liberal Caucus Colleagues (And Ministers) Need To Step Down(61 of77)
The moment that this public trust is called into question is the point that our entire system of governance is compromised. In the interest of maintaining the integrity of B.C.'s Executive Council, I believe that my colleagues Shirley Bond and Pat Bell have an obligation to remove themselves as ministers until this matter is formally investigated. Read story.
16. Jason Sulyma: Vancouver: An Imperfect But Perfectly Fun City, A Rebuttal(62 of77)
""No Fun City" and Vancouver. Heard it all before. For years and years it seems people who "write for a living" have decided to just focus on the negative instead of the ever growing positives coming out of the Vancouver communities of artists + venues + organizers! I am not saying our cultural scene is perfect. No city has a "perfect scene" or "perfect nightlife." There is drama everywhere but to say our WHOLE city is a No Fun City is a bit much these days." Read story. (credit:The Futurists)
15. Kim Bosco Mo: Is Banning Shark Fin An Equitable Way To Protect Sharks?(63 of77)
"If it is about the inhumane treatment of sharks, is a ban on shark fin soup an equitable course of action? Shouldn't we go after those unscrupulous operators who engage in illegal activities to chase fast profits? What will happen to the livelihood of fishermen who treat the carcass properly and what do we do with the large number of sharks that are killed as by-catch in commercial fishing?" Read story. (credit:AP)
14. Lindsay Anderson: What I've Learned After 100 Straight Days Of Dining Out(64 of77)
"This June, I began a rather extraordinary job... The gig? Dine at 365 Richmond restaurants in 365 days, and write a blog post about each and every experience. The rewards? A $50,000 salary, living expenses paid, all restaurant meals covered, and a gym membership to the Richmond Oval. And yes, that last one has been mighty helpful, because after 100 days I've consumed approximately 29 noodles dishes, 22 kinds of dumplings, over 33 kinds of deep-fried foods, 51 different desserts, and much more." Read story. (credit:Lindsay Anderson)
13. Kerry Sauriol: Good Riddance To Hospital Baby Photographers(65 of77)
"I've had the privilege to partake in the birth experience at both the Fraser Health and Coastal Health institutions. I've had the pleasure of complete strangers who were not doctors or nurses barging into my room moments after I expelled my progeny asking if I wanted photos of them... How about when the photographer barges into your room at 7 a.m. after you've gone through a night of induced labour to deliver the baby that was already dead? Yes, that happened to me." Read story. (credit:PA)
12. Shannon Fisher: The Asshole Dynamic: Judge Much?(66 of77)
Four years ago I made a contemptuous comment on Twitter about a dude in a speedo. It was hi-lar-ious. I envisioned thousands of favourites and retweets and "OMG YES!" replies. And all the speedo-wearing die-hards would obviously read my tweet and be converted to the side of something more sensible and loose-fitting. I was a Twitter hero. And then a friend of mine replied, "Body shame sucks." Seventeen characters to wake me up. I felt small. I had acted small. Read story. (credit:Shannon FIsher)
11. Laila Yuile: A B.C. Government For The People, Not At The Expense Of The People(67 of77)
"Today I couldn't help but wonder... at what point in a politician's life does spewing hypocritical crap become so second nature that they fail to smell the aroma of the barnyard they're sitting in?" Read story. (credit:Shutterstock)
10. Shachi Kurl: Add Diwali, Other Cultural Holidays To Official Holidays Roster(68 of77)
"If we really want to have a conversation about integration and the joyousness of diversity in the country, we should be discussing whether Canada, founded on the Judeo-Christian values of the English and French, is ready to consider introducing other religious days, such as Lunar New Year or Diwali, to the official roster of statutory days off." Read story. (credit:AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
9. Petra Zebroff: What NOT To Learn From Pornography: A Guide For Men(69 of77)
"Porn can be an exciting, fun and easy way to get aroused. It can help to inspire you sexually and teach you about sex. But porn is "fantasy" and more often than not, a male-centric one. Real-life sex is quite different. If you are learning how to have sex from porn, you may be getting misinformation, especially when it comes to pleasing a woman. Don't get misled." Read story. (credit:Alamy)
8. Brent Toderian: Does Your Neighbourhood Pass 'Trick-Or-Treat' Test?(70 of77)
"In city planning and design, there's an old saying about the "Trick-or-Treat Test." It's often brought up in the context in suburban home design: Can kids easily find the front door to your house, or must they poke behind the huge multi-car garage, past the parking asphalt, to ring your bell? Homes that fail this Trick-or-Treat Test aren't exactly welcoming, and not just on Halloween." Read story. (credit:AP)
7. Tetsuro Shigematsu: Eating Sushi? You Are Doing it Wrong(71 of77)
"If a real friend is the person who tells you when you have bad breath, then what I'm about to tell you will make me your best friend; whenever you eat sushi, you are embarrassing yourself. That's right, the abominations you commit to your California Roll bring shame upon your whole family. In fact, you may as well commit ritual disembowelment right now. (Especially if you're Asian.) Actually, you'll probably mess that up too. Just keep reading." (credit:Alamy)
6. Reive Doig: Why Dan Savage Is Wrong To Boycott Stoli(72 of77)
"Not only is a boycott of Stolichnaya misplaced, if we're to view this fight for gay rights as a battle, then this is friendly fire! SPI, the producers of Stoli, are actually based in Latvia, and that's where their vodka is actually distilled. Their claim to being "Russian Vodka" until 2007 was largely a marketing decision, and since then they've labeled their product "Premium Vodka" instead of Russian. Latvia is a small country, with a population of just over two million people. TWO million.When you think of it that way picking on poor Latvia almost seems like bullying - something the Dan Savage who pioneered the great "It gets better" campaign would hardly seem likely to get behind." Read story. (credit:Getty)
5. Suzanne Ma: A Tour Of The Deep Relationship Between B.C. Chinese Immigrants, First Nations(73 of77)
"In the valley, I discovered how two histories intersected ― how some First Nations people nursed railway workers back to health when they were left to die along the tracks, how First Nations men had teamed up with Chinese labourers working in a Nanaimo coal mine to fight off white bullies, and how some labourers had children with First Nations women." Read story. (credit:Suzanne Ma)
4. Sarah McLachlan: Music Is My Church(74 of77)
"As a child, I was insecure and didn't fit in and became a target. I was bullied and much of the time I was left to fend for myself so music became my saviour, my solace. It was the one thing I knew I was good at; it fed me and kept me going; it was a friend whenever I was in need. I truly don't know what I would have done without music in my life when I was growing up." Read story. (credit:Alamy)
3. Wade Davis: Tsunami of Industrial Development Threatens B.C.'s Sacred Headwaters(75 of77)
"This is not a story of Tibet or the Amazon, of life on the Arctic ice or in the searing sands of the Sahara. It is a story of my own backyard, a land known to the Tahltan people and all the First Nations of British Columbia as the Sacred Headwaters, the birthplace of the three great free flowing salmon rivers of home, the Stikine, Skeena and Nass." Read story. (credit:Paul Colangelo)
2. Jarrah Hodge: Calling It 'Bullying' Doesn't Do Amanda Todd Justice(76 of77)
"If you have never been called a slut, try to imagine what it would be like if you were 15 and were convinced to feel this way. As someone who experienced that, I can tell you that I am still trying to fully shake the insecurity more than a decade later. Instead of calling it bullying, which brings to mind "kids being kids," we can call it sexual harassment, or we can call it technology-facilitated slut-shaming." Read story. (credit:Myspace)
1. Sandy Garossino: How Facebook Learned Rape Is Bad For Business(77 of77)
For years Facebook has maintained an imperious and stony silence against pleas from users and victims about its most objectionable content. But on May 27th, Facebook finally flinched. And then it cratered, caved and capitulated in the course of a single phone call after a one-week #fbrape campaign by the smartest feminists on the planet. By the time Glenford Canning's moving blog post to Mark Zuckerberg appeared on Huffington Post, Facebook was on the phone to campaign organizers, agreeing to every term demanded from the outset. Read story. (credit:AP)