‘The bee’: Eby stung by wasp cracks CHEK’s top 5 stories of September 2024

CHEK News is recapping its most-read stories of the year, and September was a big month for animal news.

By a wide margin, the most popular story of September was B.C. Premier David Eby being stung by a wasp while on the provincial campaign trail.

Other top stories included a rare double orca breach, and a prestigious hotel award for a luxury Island resort.

The top five most-read stories of September 2024, starting with the fifth-most read and ending with the most popular story, can be found below.

5. RCMP, WorkSafeBC respond to ‘serious’ incident in Nanaimo

A pair of workplace deaths were cause for concern for Island readers in September.

In Nanaimo, WorkSafeBC and RCMP were called to a construction site along Shenton Road. Paramedics and the BC Coroners Service were also reported at the scene.

In an update the next day, a source told CHEK News that a teen was found dead under a large window on the third floor of this development.

4. Driver caught in Oak Bay using phone found to be prohibited from driving in B.C. and had overstayed visa

What started as a traffic infraction ultimately led to an investigation into the legal status of a man in Canada, Oak Bay police shared in September.

Police initially pulled over the driver of a cube van for having their phone in their hand, but the man gave the officer a fake name, according to Oak Bay Police. The officers later learned the driver was prohibited from driving in B.C. and that his work visa had expired two years prior.

CHEK’s Laura Brougham has more, including how the Canadian Border Services Agency got involved.

3. ‘Super cool’: Orca double breach, a rare sight, delights onlookers in Comox

A serendipitous moment in nature was remarkably captured on camera this fall – the moment that two transient orcas breached at the same time.

The encounter, which marine experts call rare, occurred off Singing Sands Beach in Comox.

A group of hopeful whale watchers gathered on the beach when they heared that orcas were nearby, and Ralf Spodzieja managed to snap the lucky shot.

“It was super cool. We kind of really didn’t expect that,” Spodzieja told CHEK News. “The jump lasted about two and a half seconds.”

CHEK’s Ethan Morneau has more on the once-in-a-lifetime photograph.

2. ‘Luxurious’ Vancouver Island hotel wins top award from Michelin’s inaugural hotel guide

While Michelin may be known for its Michelin Star restaurants and tire empire, this year the company launched its first-ever Michelin Key hotel guide, and a resort on Vancouver Island was among the top of the list.

The Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge, located northeast of Tofino, was named a “3 Key” hotel, the most prestigious tier in the guide.

The luxury resort – which costs several thousand dollars per night – boasts glamorous canvas tent lodgings, gourmet food, and a range of wilderness activities.

Three other Island hotels were also included in the guide, two that earned “2 Key” status, and one that was named a “1 Key” hotel.

CHEK’s Adam Chan has more on the inaugural Michelin Key hotel guide.

1. Wasp in fatal encounter with David Eby on B.C. campaign trail

The month’s top story revolved around a death – the death of a wasp that stung B.C. NDP leader David Eby while he was on the campaign trail during the 2024 provincial election.

Eby was in Chilliwack for a campaign stop when a wasp flew down his shirt and stung him.

Onlookers could see a flash of pain come across his face, while he desperately shook to get the wasp free.

Once the yellowjacket was out, it was stepped on by one of Eby’s staff members.

“The bee is not gonna make it,” he remarked.

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