Weekly wrap: Tragedy in Abbotsford, expensive rentals and a shark attack
Abbotsford stabbing tops the list of our most-read stories this week
Each week we put together a list of some of the stories you might have missed: those which dominated the news agenda, and some we just can't resist retelling.
When terrible tragedies like the stabbings in Abbotsford take place, we know our audience wants to know as much information as possible, fast.
So it's no surprise that articles related to what police are calling a random attack were the top-read stories on our site this week.
This tragic incident left 13-year-old Letisha Reimer dead and wounded another 14-year-old girl, whose name is under a publication ban. Family and friends describe the deceased victim as a vivacious teen with a zeal for life.
Police still have very little information on the suspect, Gabriel Brandon Klein. They say the 21-year-old was of "no fixed address" and likely hailed from Alberta.
While it's not clear whether mental illness played a role in what Klein is accused of doing, advocates say this and other alarming attacks should shine a light on an inconsistent and inadequate mental health system.
It's worth noting that a video of the fatal stabbing continues to circulate widely on the internet, CBC chose not to broadcast it.
If you haven't yet, do read this piece from our reporter Lisa Johnson about why it's difficult, but necessary to not look away from videos like these.
Racist ranter turns himself in
Another big story on our site this week was related to a racist tirade caught on video in Abbotsford.
The man who posted the video said he did so to start a dialogue about racism in the Lower Mainland. And community leaders agreed, saying that discussion on social media about the incident was a good thing.
Karry Vernon Corbett has been charged with four counts, including assault, uttering threats and causing a disturbance.
On Monday, the girlfriend of the man in the video said he was planning to turn himself in.
Laila Paiman described her boyfriend as "hot tempered at times but he doesn't have any racist issues with anybody."
Shark attack and rainy days
Of course we wouldn't be in B.C. if a real estate story didn't make our top stories list.
This week, the prize went to a story about critics slamming $2,300-a-month rentals for apartments in an old building in the West End.
NDP MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert said the renovated apartments signal a "crisis of unaffordability" in the city.
On a completely different note, this story about a man who survived a shark attack in Oregon — by catching a wave on a surf board, no less — also made waves this week. It's well worth a read, if you haven't done so already.
News about the weather is also often a big hit, and this week's story about the record breaking number of rainy days in Vancouver in October exemplifies that.
Because really, who doesn't like to talk about the weather?