What a year it's been. Tumultuous, unprecedented, and many other adjectives that were worn out months ago.
As we make our way into 2021 with the pandemic finish line in sight, it's time to take a look back on the stories that reached the most readers on our website during the wild year that was 2020.
1. Couple buys entire meat section of B.C. grocery store, leaves nothing
and
B.C. couple who bought entire meat section now living in fear
These two stories reached over 1,400,000 people combined, during the beginning phase of the pandemic in March. Remember those days, when toilet paper started becoming a hot commodity? Fun times.
2. People are travelling with containers on their heads at YVR
This story from January (a couple of months before the WHO declared a global pandemic) got 428,000 reads, and while it was an odd thing to see people travelling with homemade PPE, it was a signal of how serious things were about to become.
3. Vancouver director releases hilarious "Stay in your f**king house!" public service announcement video
Despite the headline, this story from late March was actually a pretty fun one. It struck a nerve, reaching 241,000 readers. The video featured a nostalgic children's TV commercial combined with a lockdown message, and if you haven't seen it yet it's time.
4. 19 photos of pure 'snow madness' in Metro Vancouver
Speaking of nostalgia, remember when the biggest thing to worry about (mid-January) was how you were going to get to work in the snow? Ah, wholesome memories of The Before Times. 224,000 people checked out this gallery.
5. Canada-wide peanut butter spread recall due to possible listeria contamination
Another nostalgic one from February, when 220,000 checked in to read about the possible contamination of their peanut butter.
6. Some passengers 'can't unsee' new BC Ferries mask policy signs
The original article linked here was read by 211,000 people, but it didn't say exactly what the signs that BC Ferries put up look like. We had a few readers who couldn't see what the fuss was all about so I'll just tell you: The graphic on the signs looks like a penis. There's a person wearing a mask, with what looks to be a penis where their ear should be. And yes, once you see it you won't be able to unsee it.
7. McDonald's closes take-out service across Canada, moves to drive-thru only
The third week of March was pretty hectic, with things rapidly changing. McDonald's closing all of their restaurants across Canada was a huge deal, and 176,000 readers came to our website to learn about it.
8. Ryan Reynolds tells Vancouver couple he may have to hire or kidnap them
People love to read about what Vancouver-born Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds is up to, and we love writing about it. This particular story about a B.C. couple who made a homegrown commercial for Reynolds' spirits company, Aviation Gin, made a splash with 167,000 readers.
9. Fifth case of coronavirus confirmed in B.C.
Ah, the good old days, when Dr. Bonnie Henry announced that we had 5 total cases of COVID-19 in all of B.C. and 147,000 wanted to read about it. She's quoted in this piece as saying that “The risk is still very low here (in B.C.) so... I don’t believe we should be cancelling events," and “The message is the same, if you’re feeling sick, stay at home. Wash your hands frequently and take precautions if you’re coughing and sneezing.”
10. Dr. Bonnie Henry's expressive sign language interpreter deserves a fan club
Nigel! We love Nigel! 144,000 people read about him in this story, and he did end up getting a fan club. After this was published we released a poster series and a T-shirt in collaboration with Nigel, and we ended up raising more than $3,000 for the Deaf Children's Society of B.C. and the Greater Vancouver Food Bank.
Here's to a much better, more normal, 2021. Cheers to your (our) health.
