From plane crashes to major police investigations to a brutal struggle with the elements, the Maritimes have seen a lot in 2015. As the year comes to a wrap, here are some of the highlights of the stories that made headlines in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick this year.
READ MORE: Top national and international stories of 2015
Air Canada flight crash-lands at Halifax airport
Passengers on Air Canada flight 624 traveling from Toronto to Halifax received a shock to their system on March 29, after the airplane they were on crash landed on the runway at Halifax Stanfield International Airport.
The AC624 plane crashed after hitting an antenna array when approaching the runway.
READ MORE: AC624: Was it a hard landing or a crash?
It hit the ground, breaking off the landing gear before it bounced and then skidded to a stop 1,100 feet later. The aircraft’s nose and engine were broken off and one wing was severely damaged.
A 12-year-old passenger’s video of the aftermath showed passengers visibly upset and standing cold and frightened on the runway.
Guilty pleas in Loretta Saunders murder trial
Blake Legette and Victoria Henneberry were sentenced to life in prison on April 29, after pleading guilty to murdering Loretta Saunders on Feb. 13, 2014.
Legette and Henneberry had been subletting an apartment from Saunders. Saunders went to collect rent from the couple on Feb. 13, and was not seen again. Her body was found along a highway median west of Salisbury, N.B on February 26.
The death of Saunders sparked a conversation about the increasing numbers of missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada, and prompted more calls for a national inquiry into the nation-wide issue.
READ MORE: N.S. party leaders call for inquiry into slain aboriginal women
Henneberry has since appealed her conviction.
Meningitis scare in Halifax
Many Nova Scotians were on high alert after a high school student from Lower Sackville died after being diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis.
Rylee Sears, a grade 10 student at Sackville High School died on January 26.
Dozens of people who may have been in contact with Sears were contacted and told to be on alert for any symptoms. Sears had been at a party with about 100 teens on the weekend before his diagnosis.
The province of Nova Scotia has since started vaccinating against the strain of meningitis that killed the teen, the Y-strain.
READ MORE: Nova Scotia to vaccinate against meningitis strain that killed Sackville teen
In February, a student at Acadia University in Antogonish died from the B-strain of meningococcal meningitis, which is the most common strain.
Liberals sweep Atlantic Canada in federal election
In one foul swoop, Nova Scotia was in a sea of red after voters voted for change in the 2015 federal election, securing every seat in the province to the Liberals.
The securing of Justin Trudeau‘s Liberal majority government made for some major disappointments for many NDP hopefuls who were initially projected to hold onto their seats.
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READ MORE: Andy Fillmore promises to be ‘champion of Halifax’ after beating Megan Leslie
Nova Scotia saw long-time MPs Megan Leslie and Peter Stoffer lose their seats.
Dalhousie dentistry scandal
Just in time for the winter semester, the Dalhousie University school of dentistry was shrouded in scandal when information broke about a controversial Facebook group called “Class of DDS 2015 Gentlemen.”
In the Facebook group, investigators found sexist and threatening posts directed at the male students’ female colleagues.
The men in the Facebook group were suspended as the group was investigated, and all but one student, Ryan Millet, participated in a restorative justice program before being allowed to graduate with the rest of their classmates.
Millet, the so-called “whistle blower” of the Facebook group, attempted to have his record wiped clean, citing the fact that he was the student to come forward and present the posts and expose the group.
READ MORE: Dal dentistry student lounge covered with racist, misogynistic, sexist graffiti, report finds
The whole scandal prompted a report on sexism, misogyny and homophobia at the Dalhousie School of dentistry, which said there are “complex problems with no easy solutions” present in the school, and put forward several recommendations for the school to take on.
Halifax mass murder plot
A mass shooting plot planned for the Halifax Shopping Centre on Valentine’s Day was foiled by police in Halifax the day before it was scheduled to take place.
Two of the three involved in the plot were arrested, 23-year-old Lindsay Kantha Souvannarath of Geneva, Ill., and 20-year-old Randall Steven Shepherd of Halifax, and a third, 19-year-old James Gamble, was found dead in his home when police went to arrest him.
READ MORE: Who are the ‘Columbiners’? Halifax shooting suspects blogged about school shooters
Shepherd and Souvannarath were charged with conspiracy to commit murder and remain in custody in Nova Scotia.
Officials maintained that there was no terror threat related to the mass shooting plot.
#NSFilmJobs
The slashing of the Nova Scotia Film Tax Credit caused a stir in Halifax and brought thousands of supporters out to rally against the government’s decision on April 15.
The Liberal government announced they would be cutting the tax credit to $6 million from $24 million in next year’s budget. Film producers would have access to an additional $6 million established in a fund for the creative sector.
READ MORE: Axing film tax credit in N.S. budget would put jobs at risk: industry group
The cutting of the credit put many production houses in jeopardy, as well as forced industries supporting the film industry in the province to close up shop.
16×9 investigation into Moncton RCMP murders
On June 4, 2014, Justin Bourque, heavily armed and on a rampage, shot three Mounties dead and injured two others in Moncton. The entire city was at a stand still as officers were on a manhunt for Bourque who was arrested 30 hours later.
READ MORE: Thousands attend RCMP regimental funeral service for Moncton officers
After the shooting, Global’s 16X9 investigated the murders of the officers and found that there were gaps in the training and preparedness of officers that responded to the shooting rampage.
The RCMP also launched an investigation into the shooting deaths of their officers.
Watch the entire 16X9 episode here:
Dennis Oland convicted of father’s murder
After a 90 day trial. a jury of 12 men and women convicted Dennis Oland of second degree murder in the bludgeoning death of his father, Richard Oland.
It’s a verdict that has shocked many, and with an appeal in the works, the Saint John Police Force’s investigation of Richard Oland’s murder is now being investigated.
Richard Oland was found dead in his office in 2011. Though there was no murder weapon found, evidence showed he was repeatedly beaten on the head with a blunt object.
READ MORE: Dennis Oland’s wife and mother say he’s innocent, plan appeal
The jury in the trial heard countless testimonies, including a highly emotional one from Dennis Oland himself, in which he said he missed his father.
Chief medical officer Dr. Eilish Cleary’s firing sparks outrage
The province of New Brunswick fired their top doctor, and according to Dr. Eilish Cleary, it was done “without cause.”
READ MORE: Reaction and speculation grows one day after Dr. Eilish Cleary fired
Her firing brought out supporters from the province and all across Canada as many said her termination was a “muzzling” of the doctor and wanted to see her reinstated.
The province maintained that Dr. Cleary’s termination was a human resources matter, and wouldn’t be commenting on the matter to maintain the privacy of the parties involved.
Crazy winter slams the Maritimes
As we gear up for another winter, who can forget last year’s harsh and cruel icy cold season? That’s right, no one can.
Piles and piles of snow fell on the Maritimes, making getting from point A to point B a rough struggle for many folks.
Blizzards upon blizzards pounded the region making snow clearing an uphill battle, and bitterly cold temperatures kept the white stuff on the ground for longer than most wanted to see it for.
READ MORE: Halifax is now officially over its snow removal budget for the winter
This winter isn’t expected to be so harsh, but with the Maritimes already having gotten a taste of it with two storms, it might be time to get the shovels out and prepare for the worst.
Other stories you might have missed
- Jeep Club volunteers drive Moncton hospital workers during winter storm
- Canada-wide warrants issued for man, woman sought in ‘extremely violent’ murder
- Allan Rowe, Nova Scotia MLA and former Global News broadcaster, dies
- Christopher Phillips found not guilty of threats to police in chemicals case
- No bail for William Sandeson, accused in Taylor Samson’s death
- Accused dealt with Catherine Campbell’s body in ‘cavalier’ way: Police
- Report finds Rehtaeh Parsons “did not receive support and assistance” required
- Frankie MacDonald, weather celeb, enjoying “worldwide” popularity
- Ray Bradshaw signs off from Global Halifax one last time:
https://www.facebook.com/globalhalifax/videos/vb.111515975551979/934312186605683/?type=2&theater - Liberals demand full audio recording of Younger-McVicar conversation
- Life-size Elf on the Shelf causing trouble in Moncton family home
- Halifax refugee centre to stop accepting donations due to ‘overwhelming generosity’
- Moncton teacher uses Star Wars to teach math
- WATCH: See Moncton’s mountainous snow pile from a drone’s perspective
- ‘I want to burn that stupid rug’: Project Roar aims to change view on sexual assault
- Moncton food truck owner says he faces daily racism
- Dartmouth boy fighting cancer gets surprise backyard makeover, meets heroes Crosby and MacKinnon
- ‘One-stop shop’ PTSD clinic for veterans opens in Cole Harbour
- Toronto Maple Leafs replace Riverview super fan’s collection after fire
- RCMP musical ride marks Moncton shooting anniversary
- New Brunswick woman starts rehab for dogs
- Manslaughter charges laid against two Bathurst police officers in Michel Vienneau shooting
- Man who owned python in Campbellton, N.B. attack arrested: lawyer
- Surette and Fredericks plead guilty to murder of Harley Lawrence
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