We've covered the best of news and the worst of news in the city during the past year - stories that were odd or fascinating, stories that made us tear up, and stories that made us proud to share turf with such fantastic people and organizations.
Now, we're honouring the most interesting - and sometimes the most bizarre - stories of the year that was with the Burnaby NOW's annual accolades.
The If It Doesn't Melt Your Heart, You Must Be a Robot Award
What started as story of loss and separation last June became a tale of love conquering all - civil war, borders, two years in different countries and statelessness - by September.
Marwa O'da's tale of separation from fiancé Wissam Nassar touched people in the community enough that they came together to bring her to Burnaby from Syria, where she was a stateless refugee - and the campaign to bring her home moved both reporters and readers.
Nassar was able to leave behind the war and the crowded refugee camp to come to Canada in 2011 with his parents and brother when the family was sponsored by Ian Macdonald's family. The family, along with Macdonald's former congregation at the South Burnaby United Church, began a campaign to bring Nassar's fiancée to him, as well.
After more than two years, the moment of her arrival at the Vancouver Airport in September was one of triumph and happy tears. "I feel big happiness," O'da told the NOW after she arrived in Canada. "(I'm) very happy because I'm with my fiancé."
The Most Cursed Riding Award
You would think with all the tug-of-warring over the federal Burnaby-Douglas riding this year that it would be considered the most cursed riding in the city. But no, despite the fact that the riding was wiped out of existence to merge with the Burnaby North-Seymour riding - making NDP MP Kennedy Stewart's chances of holding it in the next election very tenuous indeed - there's still one other riding in the city that has suffered more.
While Bermuda has its triangle, Burnaby has its sextagon - the provincial Burnaby-Lougheed riding has become an unexpected realm of political intrigue and superstition. The stretch of East Burnaby became infamous as the riding of former Liberal MLA Harry Bloy, who was embroiled in one controversy after another in recent years, most involving leaked documents. The residents - and Liberal government, no doubt - breathed a collective sigh of relief when Bloy did not run in the May election. But the political roller coaster was not over for residents of the riding. During the election, a number of controversies surfaced about NDP candidate Jane Shin, namely that she had misrepresented her status as a practicing medical doctor and had not been honest about her background in her election campaigning. Despite this, Shin won the election. It remains to be seen what Shin will do as MLA (particularly since the legislature is not in session), but Burnaby-Lougheed will be the riding to watch for some time to come.
The Most Riotous Rampage Award
It happens about once a year. Someone steals a vehicle and speeds through the city. There are police helicopters in the sky and chase scenes play out on Twitter as residents try to track the path of potential destruction.
But all of those chase scenes paled in comparison with the rampage in December that damaged six police cruisers, a speed watch van and an anti-graffiti van, and flooded the Burnaby Hospital ER.
According to police, a suspect stole a Jeep Cherokee in Surrey, eventually crashing it into a parked RCMP cruiser at the community police office at Lougheed Town Centre in Burnaby. The suspect then broke into a rental truck and damaged more vehicles before being apprehended after fleeing on foot.
He was taken to Burnaby Hospital to be examined and jumped from his bed, ripping out a sprinkler head and flooding the acute care area of the hospital.
Charges were laid against 38-year-old Joseph Field of Surrey.
Story with the Most Bite Award
It kept coming like an animal tracking its prey, never wavering.... A pack of incensed residents headed to city hall to fight - or champion - Burnaby's breed specific bylaw legislation. After months of back-and-forth over whether or not Burnaby would scrap the portion of its bylaw that defined pit bulls as vicious dogs, with certain restrictions in the city, council did approve changing some aspects of its animal control bylaw - but not in favour of pit bulls.
In fact, the city strengthened the restrictions and added German shepherds to the list of vicious dogs. Ironically, the howls of protest and gnashing of teeth from all sides - pet owners, pit bull opponents and the city - were more ferocious than any of the animals being discussed during the lengthy reworking of the bylaw, which also addressed pet sales in Burnaby. Advocates accused the city of refusing to listen to reason and citing dubious sources in staff reports. For this, the City of Burnaby wins the award for muzzling the most mouths - pit bulls and owners alike.
Best Apology... We Can Get Award
There is nothing like a good apology and in recent years, Burnaby has seen nothing like one.
This year's award for the best sort-of, almost, not-so-public mea culpa goes to Burnaby-Lougheed MLA Jane Shin.
While Shin apologized to NOW readers, she also made an apology to key members of the Korean community.
'It was emotional because I wanted to apologize for any kind of heartache or disappointments that the community may have felt," she told the NOW in August.
Shin said she apologized at the meeting for her "chinkasaurauses" comment, a disparaging remark she used to describe Chinese seniors on an online forum more than 10 years ago.
Shin is the first Korean-Canadian to be elected to the B.C. legislature.
We can't exactly commend her for publicly taking it on the Shin, as the apology was made during a private meeting, but when politicians take some responsibility for past errors, we do take notice - as it doesn't happen often.
Most High-Profile Hijacking Award
Burnaby is generally a peaceful place, and one without a lightning rod of controversy to ignite the passions of high-profile activists - at least it was, until this fall.
While the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion project has certainly been a prominent issue for locals and those beyond Burnaby's borders, the situation became much more dramatic in October when Greenpeace protesters seized Kinder Morgan's Westridge Marine Terminal.
The Greenpeace action was timed to coincide with a speech from the throne in Ottawa, in which the federal government renewed its vow to expand pipelines from Alberta to the Pacific through B.C. to get tar sands oil to Asian markets.
People in the community either stood strongly with Greenpeace on the issue or denounced the protesters in letters to the editor - there was no middle ground. But at least it finally got us talking about security issues at a facility that transports large quantities of flammable oil products.
First-World Problem Award
While some people prefer to wear their hearts on their sleeves, at least two Burnaby residents object to having to publicly declare anything on their wrists - particularly membership at local recreation centres.
Both residents separately took a stand against oppression this year, telling city community centre employees they would not wear the bands on their wrists because they were uncomfortable.
However, like many other battles against injustice that played out across the globe, this one was lost.
One resident petitioned for the rules to be changed, but the director of parks and recreation would not be moved.
"People are given their wristband when they pay at the desk and they are reminded that they need to wear it so staff can quickly see that they've paid without having to bother them," Dave Ellenwood told the NOW in an email.
Rising Star Award
Every year, our arts reporter talks to numerous young, emerging talents who are doing their best to make a go of it in the tough world of performing. So which one of them is likely to follow in the steps of Michael Bublé and go from hometown performer to superstar?
It's a tough call, but this year's nod goes to Luca Fogale, the 22-year-old North Burnaby singer-songwriter who was chosen as part of this year's PEAK Performance Project. Besides his obvious talent, he comes equipped with the work ethic, support network and positive attitude to make a go of it. His clear appreciation for all the help he's been given thus far, and his love for his community, make him a standout in a world of egos.
And besides, his mother makes good muffins.
All in all: a big win.
Runner-up: Megan Twist, another rising singer-songwriter talent whose year included entertaining across Canada on VIA Rail and releasing her new EP. Another case of talent and a winning attitude.
Flying Under the Radar Award
TransLink would likely demurely decline this award, since it seems as though there's a bad news story making the rounds about the company every week, but we stand by our nomination.
Because, for every Compass Card story and every bus route problem that comes to light, many of the local issues with TransLink fall by the wayside.
For instance, when we reported that TransLink was spending more than $100,000 each month on leases in buildings they no longer occupy - that story was buried a week later by one about the raises given to TransLink executives in 2012.
“Generate too much bad news to take it all in" may seem like a terrible PR strategy, but it is working for TransLink. The company may get flack about not letting its bus drivers dress as Santa - a situation easily rectified with a Dickensian change of heart - but in the meantime, the critical transportation issues facing our most vulnerable residents who take HandyDart are overshadowed by such shenanigans.
Most Childhood Nightmare-Inducing Award
We thought the snakehead story last year was the stuff of horror, but this year's scary story is about a much more common phobia - dentists.
The drilling dentist is something many people try to avoid, and there are hundreds of locals who probably wish they'd avoided one in particular, Tung Sheng (David) Wu.
Wu was sent to prison for three months in November after being found in contempt of court for running an illegal dental practice.
Last summer, the rogue dentist fled Burnaby, where he practiced out of his home, when it was discovered he was breaching a 2003 order prohibiting him from being a dentist. He turned himself in to Toronto police in October.
The photos that ran with local stories were the stuff of nightmares - dirty equipment dingy quarters.
Hopefully, the attention on the case will deter any other bargain-basement-suite dentists from setting up shop in our city.
Best Quote Award
This award often goes to city politicians, and this year is no exception.
The people with the most experience speaking to the masses often use the most colourful language, and one of the most colourful orators we have is Mayor Derek Corrigan.
Corrigan wins the award this year for his stated reason for running in the next civic election.
"I'm a mother bear protecting our interests," he told the NOW. "I know I'm going to have real separation anxiety when I'm no longer part of the decisions being made."
Corrigan has served as mayor for the past 12 years.
In a city known for its green spaces and wildlife, aren't we all just cubs under the careful, watching eye of Corrigan, our diligent den mother?
Best of the Burnaby Beasts Award
No, this is not another award for Burnaby's Mother Bear.
In a city that is 25 per cent parkland, encounters with wildlife are common, as are stories about these encounters.
There really is a bounty of beastliness in Burnaby - and we're not talking about the crowds at Metrotown. Burnaby residents may be forgiven for constantly misquoting The Wizard of Oz as they walk throughout the city; "Coyotes and crows and bears, oh my!"
One of the city's furrier residents even had her moment in the spotlight recently. A coyote that was hit by a car in September and was brought to the Wildlife Rescue Association will be featured on the cover of the association's 2014 calendar.
But the Best of the Burnaby Beasts Award has to go to the Deer Lake pheasants. While it seems the population may be dying out now, we have to give props to the birds for surviving their original purpose - the prey of hunters in the area, who released them at Deer Lake for that purpose.
Since it is a non-native Asiatic species, the ring-necked pheasants will not be replaced as numbers dwindle. But we give a beastly bellow in appreciation of the birds' survival instincts thus far, and of course, for the beautiful plumage.
Most Prolific Tweeple
Competing with the Twitterati is never easy, particularly for hyper local Tweeple.
While they may never have hoards of followers like Katy Perry, Justin Bieber and U.S. President Barack Obama, the Heights Merchants Association is still pretty good at holding its own.
The association regularly retweets information relevant to people in the neighbourhood and constantly updates residents about the events and initiatives taking place in the area.
The HMA also has a very active Facebook account, with photos and updates posted frequently.
The association has more than 1,700 followers on Twitter and engages with them on a regular basis. They have more than 1,100 'Likes' on Facebook.
From Light Up the Heights to Hats Off Day, the association keeps locals in the know about what's happening on Hastings Street.
Video of the Year
While videos featuring kids and kittens may get the most hits, our sports videos are where all the action is.
This year's Video of the Year is Moscrop in first - though we like to call it The Big Catch.
The thrilling footage of Moscrop Panthers' win over Timberline in October, garnering the team first place in the B.C. high school Tier II football division, is our top pick for the year.
Watch as Ari Ali passes to Jerome Cross for one of the team's three touchdown (Ali ran for the other two).
The cheer and jubilation is infectious for both football fans and those new to the game.
The video and accompanying story are at www.burnabynow.com/photos-videos/moscrop-tops-tier-ii-varsity-football-1.663046.
Move Over, Nostradamus, or Toot Our Own Horn Award
Here at the Burnaby NOW, we try not to perform the 'I told you so' dance too often. But every once in awhile, we have a moment to look back and see that we did, in fact, tell you so. And we were right.
One of last year's awards - Expect to see more of this in 2013 - went to the Kinder Morgan pipeline.
As we predicted, the pipeline was a major issue during the provincial election, particularly in the Burnaby-North riding where it came up frequently at all-candidates' debates.
But things came to a head with the pipeline this October, when Greenpeace activists took over Kinder Morgan's Westridge Marine Terminal for a day.
There has been much back-and-forth over the pipeline - how much business and work a pipeline expansion project could bring to the city versus the environmental and health concerns of residents.
We'll take last year's prediction one step further and say, this is a story that's bound to stick around. We won't be hearing anyone say, "The Kinder Morgan pipeline is SO 2013" in the New Year.
With National Energy Board applications and public hearings to come, we'll be hearing about the pipeline - and reporting on it - for a long time to come.
Best Happy Ending Award
After their beloved treadmill was stolen from Gustav Wasa Place seniors' home, Eila Astells and Helen Mojzes shared their story with the Burnaby NOW.
The two women had been instrumental in fundraising for the treadmill several years ago and learning it had been stolen was heartbreaking.
The two had no hope it would ever be returned. But when Burnaby business Fitness Town heard about the theft the executives decided to help out the home. They donated a brand new treadmill to Gustav Wasa Place - much to the delight of residents, including Astells and Mojzes.
