Highlights of the first half of 2012 where published in the last issue of the Richmond News (Dec. 28.)
July:
? Two daytrippers got stranded on Shady Island off Steveston on Canada Day by the changing tide and had to be rescued by the volunteer crews and the RCMP.
? Three families were left homeless after a blaze ripped through an under-construction duplex near Francis and No. 2 roads. Fire investigators couldn't rule out arson.
? The City of Richmond first considered banning shark fin sales due to fears over certain species being endangered due to the illegal practice of "finning."
? Richmond Mounties were on the hunt for a gang who tricked their way into a woman's south Richmond home before tying her up and robbing her of thousands of dollars worth of designer handbags.
? A local historian and retired Navy diver, Matthew McBride, watched as eight new names of Richmond's forgotten war dead were expertly etched onto the city's cenotaph, thanks to his dogged research.
? Germany were the heroes of the 2012 Nations Cup at Hugh Boyd, winning the Men's Open final. Scotland kept their impressive soccer pedigree intact with wins in the over-30s and 38s, while Ireland bagged the 45s, the inagural 52s and the women's titles.
August:
? Richmond hailed its own Olympic Games hero in London when McRoberts grad Darcy Marquardt picked up a silver medal in the women's eight rowing.
? The Maritime Festival hooked a record 35,000 crowd over the three-day event in Steveston.
? A 35-year-old woman was taken into police custody after her husband was found suffering from multiple stab wounds on the doorstep of the couple's city centre condo. He died shortly after being found.
? A 63-year-old man died after falling off his bicycle without wearing a helmet on a Highway 91 overpass. The man was riding with his two children at the time.
? Supporters of the proposed ban on shark fin sales confronted Richmond restaurateur David Chung, who refused to offer up samples of his shark fin soup from his Jade Seafood restaurant for DNA testing.
September:
? Richmond Centre MLA Rob Howard announced that, after just three years in office, he will not be running in the spring provincial election. Howard said he wanted to spend more time with his wife and cross a number of things off his bucket list. ? A hockey coach, Martin Tremblay, faced assault charges after allegedly tripping a young Richmond player during the postgame handshake at UBC's Thunderbird arena.
? A judge decided to spare Stanley Cup rioter Camille Cacnio jail time after she admitted taking part in the notorious June 2011 event. The judge noted that UBC student Cacnio, the first female rioter to be sentenced, had suffered enough at the hands of social media.
? The City of Richmond kicked off the lengthy public consultation process to decide what to do with the Garden City Lands.
Forecasts of a near four-year process by staff are subsequently pared down to a couple of years.
? Richmond MP Alice Wong dodged questions on a controversial vote in the House of Commons on whether to investigate whether a fetus is a human being before the moment of birth. Wong was one of 13 B.C. Tories who supported the motion, which was subsequently defeated.
October:
? Richmond MP Alice Wong provoked a flood of angry letters to the News after indulging in a bowl of shark fin soup while posing for Chinese-speaking media only. She admitted she did not know whether the dish came from an endangered species, but defended her decision by saying it should be a personal choice.
? As Richmond's Sockeyes celebrated their 40th anniversary, the News published a special section reviewing the evolution and glory days of the hockey team.
November
? Sheer volumes of food scraps and organic waste poured into the composting facility in East Richmond caused foul odours to waft over the city, resulting in many complaints from Richmondites. Owner Harvest Power said it's dealing with the issue and was ordered to rectify the problems by Metro Vancouver.
? Prospective federal Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau joined staff and members of Richmond's Pathways Clubhouse to discuss several pressing issues people with mental health issues often face, including the need for housing and decent employment.
December
? The race for the soon-to-be-vacant Richmond Centre seat in Victoria began to take shape when school trustee Grace Tsang threw her hat in the ring for the Liberals. Dr. Caroline Wang, known for taking on the BC Medical Association in court, is mulling at least two offers to run.
? Plumbing company owner Brian Williams revealed his plans to help rebuild the home of 12-year-old Emily de Boer, who ended up in a wheelchair after a spine curvature procedure last year went horribly wrong.
? Property tax for Richmond homeowners was announced to increase close to three per cent, a lower rise than expected.
? Plans for a 14-acre shopping centre, anchored by Walmart, were presented to city council. Council, however, expressed major concerns over road connector issues.
