Revisiting the thousands of stories published in 2019 by SaltWire newsrooms across Atlantic Canada,it's hard to choose which to showcase in our year-end features. Much happens - both good and terrible - in a region over the course of 12 months
Here are the most-read stories that left a good feeling in our hearts.
In January, Oak Island -part of Nova Scotia popular with cottagers, treasure hunters and reality TV viewers - proved a winner withSaltWire readers with Stuart Peddle's piece on a new website showcasing archives from the area.
A second story about Oak Island - a tribute to the late Dan Blankenship - topped our charts in March when Aaron Beswickinterviewed the treasure hunter's son.
One of the most memorable stories in Nova Scotia in 2019 was theOctober story of a Glace Bay, Cape Breton,woman helped by a roofing contractor's generosity - and a bit of trickery.
AfterSharon Montgomery-Dupe'scoverage of Locke's gesture and a follow-up story about the rough shape MacDonald's house was in, including help with heatingand furniture.
Chad Hiltz from Canning, N.S., is another reality TV personality who is also a SaltWireaudience favourite. He made his U.S. TV debut on the first day of 2019, when his show Bad Chad Customs debuted on the Discovery Channel. This Heather Desveauxfeature on Hiltz's debut quickly topped our charts.
Fans of "Bad Chad" can read more about the custom car whiz in this feature from SaltWire's Kirk Starratt published in March:VIDEO: No dream too big: Bad Chad teaches life lessons while building custom cars
Three New Years ago, Rachel Moase decided to change her lifestyle. A little more than a year ago, that decision led the Charlottetown, P.E.I., woman to be chosen as the face of a GoodLife Fitness campaign.
Katherine Hunt's interview with Moase was one of our most-read articles of 2019.
When an Alberta tourist Bob Gillard lost his wallet while hiking in Newfoundland and Labrador'sGros Morne National Park, staff told him to have hope. That hope was fulfilled a few weeks later when a Nova Scotian, Lukas Wentzell, came upon the lost item and arranged for its return.
Gillard's following gesture of gratitude helped those in need and charmed our readers when Ian Fairclough shared the story in August.
The search for a Canadian who committed an act of kindness while doing some touristing of his own was featured on our network in April, when Rose Mullaleyspoke toKathryn Miller. Aftefrantically waiting for almost an hour at Tampa International Airport in Florida on weekday in Marchfor word about the status of her purse, which she had mistakenly left on a shuttle bus from her hotel to the airport, a Newfoundlander came to her rescue. Miller wanted to express her gratitude, so she contacted the St. John's Telegram.
After Mullaley's story was published, a gentleman from Trinity Bay, N.L., called the newsroom. Its nice to be recognized, but its really no big deal, the man, who didn't want his name published, told The Telegram. Id like to think most people, especially Newfoundlanders, wouldve done the same.
After two years of fighting discrimination, Nova Scotia's Melody Harding convinced the provincial government to remove a requirement that candidates for breast reduction have a body mass index (BMI) below a certain level.
Its not a guarantee, but at least people can have their consultation and can actually see a person face to face and see if its appropriate, Harding told Nicole Munro after a settlement was reached in May.
When SaltWire's Ashley Thompson interviewed Harding in 2017 as her battle began, the Aylesford, N.S.- native said: When I say that it is a life-changing surgery Im not pussyfooting around. It is a life-changing opportunity.
When John DeMontshared the sstory of Joni Rutledge who was living in her car in a Dartmouth, N.S., parking lot, readers reached out to open their wallets and homes to the woman who had ended up homeless and out-of-work. As of Dec. 31, a GoFundMe to help Rutledge had reached more than $9,000
Two hours before Neil Harpham chose to end his life through medically assisted death, theCharlottetown businessman was sharing his story with journalist Jim Day.
I wake up in the morning and I go downhill every dayand the next day and the next day and the next day" Harpham said Feb. 8. Im just so glad I dont have to wake up to this shit anymore.
Over a career owning two taxi companies, Harpham employed more than 150 people. Many of those cabbies lined up outside of their taxis on that February dayoutside of Harphams P.E.I.home to give the man a moving, heartfelt send-off.
What was your favourite news story of 2019? Join the conversation on this article at SaltWire.com.
Go here to read the rest:
SaltWire's top 10 standout stories from 2019 - The Vanguard
