CTV Atlantic’s 2016 Year in Review: A to Z

CTV Atlantic: Year in Review: A-Z CTV's Marie Adsett looks back at the top stories of the 2016 from A-Z.

A: Alton Gas apology

First Nations peoples argue the government didn't properly consult with them before approving the Alton Natural Gas development. They launched an appeal, and a leaked brief had Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil apologizing. Lawyers for the justice department issued a brief that suggested the Mi'kmaq are a "conquered people" and because of that, government doesn't need to consult with them. The premier and justice minister say they did not see the brief before it was filed. The provincial crown lawyer behind the controversial legal brief was taken off the case and replaced.

B: Baylee Wylie

The 19-year-old’s body was found in a burned out apartment building in Moncton in December 2015. Only one of three people have been tried in connection with the case. During the trial, the jury heard that Wylie had been stabbed more than 150 times. After three days of deliberations, a jury found Devin Morningstar guilty of first-degree murder and arson in Wylie's death. Morningstar's co-accused, Tyler Noel and Marissa Shephard, return to court next year.

C: Cameron Conrad

Cameron Conrad’s story captured the hearts and spurred the generosity of Canadians from coast-to-coast this year. Conrad was working in Alberta when he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. His dying wish was to return home to Nova Scotia – a wish granted through the generous support of CTV viewers who donated and paid for a medical flight home. Two weeks after his return, he passed away surrounded by family and friends.

D: Duffy trial

Senator Mike Duffy is once again charging taxpayers for his cost of living in Ottawa. Senate documents show that Duffy claimed more than $16,000 in living expenses for time spent in Ottawa between March and June 20 of this year. The senator told CTV by email that all his recent expense claims have been approved. Duffy returned to senate duty in April after his acquittal on 31 charges of breach of trust, fraud and bribery.

E: Elsie Wayne

The beloved long-serving Saint John Member of Parliament passed away this year. She was a formidable foe and feisty, holding her own when her party was reduced to just two seats. But if Elsie Wayne was on your side, she was a valuable friend, colleague and champion for your cause. That's how the former Saint John Mayor and Member of Parliament was remembered by former colleagues in the Maritimes and in Ottawa. And while her public service is remembered and celebrated, her private life as a wife and mother is also cherished.

F: Fort McMurray wildfires

Atlantic Canadians were among those evacuated from the city destroyed by a raging wildfire back in May. The whole community of 80,000 people was ordered to leave, sending residents fleeing both north and south and even home to the Maritimes. Fundraisings concerts were hosted with local talent and CTV hosted "The Maritimes Back Fort Mac" telethon show in partnership with the Red Cross.

G: Gun Violence

A rash of homicides in Halifax led to various marches to end gun violence. Despite an increase in the number of homicides in the city, police in Halifax say the crime rate has declined in the past year. Second quarter statistics show that crime overall was down over one per cent when compared with the same period in 2015. Violent crime declined almost eight per cent, which includes assaults and robberies. However, there was a 200 per cent increase in the number of homicides. The number of attempted murders was also up 16 per cent.

H: Hells Angels

An organization with a long and sordid history in the Maritimes marked their return with a party. The Hells Angels are known to many as the most-powerful motorcycle gang in the world.

I: IKEA

The major retailer announced their return to the region to kick off the new year. The site is already under construction and the recruiting for staff is also underway. Approximately 300 workers will be hired and the store will be roughly 328,000 square feet in size. IKEA Halifax is on track to open in the fall of 2017 and it will be located at Dartmouth Crossing.

J: Jewel heist

Police issued a nationwide warrant and nabbed a 70-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman wanted in connection with the theft of a $10,000 diamond stolen on Oct. 7 from W. Smith and Co. Fine Jewellers. A few days later police say the same people hit a jewelry store in Charlottetown, stealing two diamonds worth $20,000 in total.

K: Kid – Sid the Kid

Hockey legend Sidney Crosby returned home to Nova Scotia with Lord Stanley's Cup. A native of Cole Harbour, N.S., Crosby won his second cup in June, then led Team Canada to the World Cup of Hockey title. But just before the start of this year's season he was diagnosed with another concussion but is back full-force and off to a strong season.

L: Landmark lost

Just before the tourism season started, the iconic elephant rock formation at Hopewell Rocks collapsed. Many weren't sure what affect that was going to have on tourism numbers, but it turns out it helped boost the number of visitors to the New Brunswick tourist destination.

M: Moose rescue

Shediac firefighters make a dramatic rescue. Volunteers broke through the ice and lead the 500 pound animal safely to shore. The same fire department rescued two dogs from an icy river two weeks later. The department is now being recognized with a compassionate fire department award from PETA for rescuing the moose from the frozen river.

N: Navy in Cuba

HMCS Fredericton went to Cuba to make some history this year. A Canadian military vessel hasn't visited the country in 65 years. The Halifax-based ship sailed to Havana for a two-day visit for an outreach program. Rear Admiral John Newton told CTV News the Department of National Defence is working to strengthen ties with Cuba, as well as Colombia and Mexico.

O: Oland trial

It's a very different holiday season for Dennis Oland. Just days before Christmas of last year, he was handed a life sentence for killing his father, Richard Oland. Ten months later, Dennis Oland was granted bail after being given a new trial by the New Brunswick Court of Appeal, which found the judge in the first trial made a mistake in his charge to the jury.

P: Python deaths

Jean Claude Savoie was charged with criminal negligence in the deaths of Noah and Connor Barthe. The four and six-year-old boys were asphyxiated by a python that escaped its enclosure in Savoie's apartment. The python escaped by travelling through a ventilation duct and dropping into the living room where the boys slept. This fall, an 11-member jury found Jean Claude Savoie not guilty.

Q: Queen Elizabeth turns 90

Queen Elizabeth II turned 90 years old this year. Her majesty has steered the monarchy through decades of social change and family ups and downs, all while remaining a symbol of stability in a shifting world. She surpassed her great great grandmother Queen Victoria's royal service, becoming the nation's longest reigning monarch.

R: Rudder of the Bluenose

More than a few mariners and shipbuilders would likely tell you the rebuild of Bluenose two has been rudderless from the beginning. But this year the schooner was literally without a rudder. The vessel is undergoing another expensive modification, installing the kind of rudder some sea salts have wanted from the very beginning.

S: Syrian refugees

A year after they arrived, Syrian refugees are losing their federal funding. In Nova Scotia, not even a quarter of them have secured full-time employment. Immigrant services maintains that's a good number, but no one seems to know just how many newcomers will now rely on provincial assistance.

T: Train tragedy

Just as the school year was coming to an end in June, two teenagers died on the tracks after being struck by a train in Lantz, N.S. Cienna MacPherson, 17, and an 18-year-old German exchange student both attended Hants East Rural High School.

U: Union unrest

The battle over a new contract between teachers and the Nova Scotia government led to an unprecedented move by Education Minister Karen Casey. She cancelled classes province-wide over what she called safety concerns for students. The work-to-rule campaign also caused the cancellation of Christmas concerts, leading one student to write Santa for a Christmas miracle.

V: Veterans

On the eve of this Remembrance Day, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in Cape Breton to officially reopen the Veterans Affairs office. It was closed by the previous Conservative government, leading to major protests and unanswered pleas to keep the doors open. This year, veterans joined forces to protest an allied veteran's right for a bed in a veteran's hospital. The Blindheim family waged a very public battle that had a happy ending. Their campaign paved the way for others to get a bed for their service.

W: Wild weather

Scorching temperatures and lack of rain over the summer impacted crops and water levels. The dry weather led dry wells and wildfires in Nova Scotia. Remnants of Hurricane Matthew lashed Cape Breton on Thanksgiving weekend, causing major flooding and destroying properties, bridges and roads. The Cape Breton Regional Municipality says hundreds of people applied for disaster relief assistance following the torrential downpour that swamped the Sydney area.

X: X-rated

A former Nova Scotia teacher who sexually abused one teenage student and sent explicit texts to another has been sentenced to 15 months of house arrest. Carolyn Amy Hood of Stellarton, N.S., was found guilty in April of sexual interference, sexual exploitation and two counts of luring minors over the Internet for a sexual purpose. Hood will be under electronic supervision and her name will go on the sex offender registry for life.

Y: Yarmouth ferry

The ferry carried only about half the number of passengers hoped for, but Bay Ferries says it won't be asking the province for more money. The company says 35,551 people rode the ferry between June and September, along with just over 13,000 vehicles. The province set a target of 60,000 passengers saying that was the number needed to keep Bay Ferries in the black. But the company now says it was able to keep costs down by carefully managing expenditures and reducing operating costs.

Z: Zika virus

The World Health Organization's emergency committee, which declared an international public health emergency in February, said the virus still represents "a significant and an enduring public health challenge." Zika has spread to more than 60 countries and territories since the outbreak was identified in Brazil. There have been some 2,300 confirmed cases worldwide, most of them in Brazil.