The second half of our news quiz will appear Dec. 28. Answers to the following questions on page 10.
JANUARY
1) A four-block stretch of Grand Boulevard was evacuated Dec. 30 after a passerby spotted a suspected explosive device in a backyard. What was it a component of? It had been out of use for two months less a day. (Jan. 2)
2) Who went missing from the front steps of North Vancouver's St. Paul's Catholic Church at the end of last year, right after his official birthday? (Jan. 7)
3) According to the provincial government, what rose all over the North Shore by as much as 20 per cent in 2010? It's intangible, but every home has one. (Jan. 7)
4) Seventy-four residents of Tempe Heights in North Vancouver signed a petition early this year aimed at keeping something out of their neighbourhood they worried might hurt their children's health. It was tall, non-toxic and posed no direct physical threat. Most of us use several every day. What was it? (Jan. 9)
5) Police issued a warrant early this year for a 31-year-old West Vancouver man they said had bilked dozens of people out of a total of $60,000 by selling them a paper item which he never delivered. The suspect scam wasn't discovered until early 2010, just before the promised product could have been used. What had he been selling? (Jan. 12)
6) What high-profile federal employee hosted a town hall meeting at Kay Meek Centre in West Vancouver January 13? He famously lost his job on live television five months later. (Jan. 16)
7) A newspaper deliveryman filed a civil suit against a West Vancouver municipal employee in early January, claiming he had suffered a brain injury when the employee attacked him while drunk outside a Vancouver hotel in 2009. What was the assailant's job? (Jan. 19)
8) What did former solicitor general Kash Heed famously label himself in an email to a campaign aide while he was West Vancouver's police chief in September 2008? It's an animal, and it's always male. (Jan. 21)
9) What was found on a bathroom wall at Argyle secondary that caused North Vancouver RCMP to put the school under surveillance for an entire day Jan. 20? By itself it's harmless, but what it represents is not. (Jan. 23)
10) What did North Vancouver bank manager Stan Yee do Jan. 18 that was labelled "dangerous" by police, but which nonetheless drew their praise - kind of? (Jan. 23)
11) When it comes to cadmium contamination, eating a standard serving of half a dozen of this British Columbian-farmed delicacy is equivalent to smoking 12 packs of cigarettes, according to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control. What is it? (Jan. 23)
FEBRUARY
12) At the end of January, one-time B.C. Liberal leadership contender George Abbott got support from three-quarters of the people on the North Shore who work in this job. What is their profession? (Feb. 2)
13) A snowshoer who survived a 10metre fall from West Vancouver's Hollyburn Mountain Jan. 30 owed her life to what wooden object, according to rescuers? (Feb. 2)
14) Workers had to use a cherry picker to remove at least 23 of these from a flagpole at Sutherland secondary Jan. 30. Authorities suspected they had been placed there by the 2011 graduating class, a conclusion based on the telltale "Grad 2011" that had been painted on them. What were they? (Feb. 2)
15) Two friends returning from a restaurant in early February found the window of their car smashed at Chesterfield Avenue and West Third Street. What damning piece of evidence did they find in the front seat? They held on to it until police arrived - no easy feat. (Feb. 9)
16) Over a two-week period early this year, 182 of these were dropped in West Vancouver, a fact that wasted a huge amount of police time. It prompted West Vancouver police to put out a plea to the public to be more careful with the devices they put in their pockets. What was being dropped? (Feb. 9)
17) A crank caller drew the unwelcome attention of the West Vancouver police Feb. 6 when he phoned at least two homes claiming to be with what municipal organization? (Feb. 13)
18) Why did staff and employees at 10 North Vancouver businesses set off their sprinkler systems over a threeday period in mid-February, causing thousands of dollars in damage, despite a marked lack of fire? (Feb. 16)
19) A 52-year-old North Vancouver man sued the government early this year over his treatment at the Fraser Valley Correctional Centre. What did he claim the prison took from him without his permission? He had had them for most of his life, they had no material value, but they would have cost thousands of dollars to replace. (Feb. 18)
20) In which industry did the TseilWaututh Nation buy a $2-million equity share in February, hoping literally to make money out of thin air? (Feb. 20)
21) The Squamish Nation got a settlement pegged at $2-million in February thanks to a mistake made in 1917. What had been misplaced 94 years ago that led to the windfall? (Feb. 27)
MARCH
22) West Vancouver floated a plan early this year to tap into a new heat source for municipal buildings and private highrises. It's huge, cold and can't be consumed. (March 2)
23) What was being sold in Lighthouse Park early this year that had residents up in arms and prompted the municipality to intervene? It's legal and very popular with West Vancouverites. (March 6)
24) What globally televised event caused an Argyle secondary school trip to be diverted from Tokyo March 10? (March 13)
25) A North Shore car dealership owner was ranked 173rd in the world in terms of this feature by a well-known magazine this year. What had the publication been measuring? (March 13)
26) What global event caused North Shore pharmacies to run out of potassium iodide in March? (March 18)
27) According to a lawsuit resolved in March, a missing cotter pin is likely to blame for what major mishap on the West Vancouver waterfront in 2005? (March 23)
28) Two road-racing motorcyclists were criminally charged with dangerous driving after a breakneck race through the Lower Mainland in October 2010 that ended in North Vancouver. What did the people of B.C. get out of the deal in March? (March 25)
29) What seagoing invention has scientist Robert Devlin been safety testing for more than 20 years at a West Vancouver-based federal research facility? It poses no direct threat to swimmers or watercraft. (March 25)
30) What Japanese product was found on rocks next to the SeaBus in late March, causing a stir among local media and raising safety concerns for some residents? (March 30)
31) Last year, West Vancouver received more than $400,000 in revenue as a result of the community's "forgetfulness" according to municipal number crunchers. What was the money from? (March 30)
APRIL
32) Auto theft in B.C. has dropped by 80 per cent over the past decade or so, according to ICBC. What device is credited with the lion's share of the improvement? (April 6)
33) A 22-year-old North Vancouver man was facing a possible death sentence this year because he couldn't come up with $500,000. His life was saved in July when the government finally stepped in. What had the money been for? (April 8)
34) A North Vancouver family returned from a vacation in Hawaii in late March to find something gone from their home. To their surprise and joy, it was returned to them by helicopter two weeks later. What was it? (April 10)
35) Two North Vancouver teens had to be rescued by firefighters in Seymour April 2. They were in an urban area, there was no fire, and no accident had taken place. Where had they been?
(April 10)
36) A man's car was written off April 14 when he was involved in a collision on Hwy. 99 with a huge moving object. He was the only living thing involved in the crash. What had he hit? (April 15)
37) Metro Vancouver is spending $800 billion to build a facility in Seymour capable of treating 18 billion of these a day. What are they? (April 17)
38) The prominent former head of a coal terminal sued an even more prominent West Vancouver lawyer for defamation April 26 following a public exchange. At the time, both men were vying for the same job. What was it? (April 27)
39) What large, 144-year-old entity did West Vancouver Western Block candidate Allan Holt vow to divide into two if elected? (April 29)
MAY
40) A West Vancouver preschool teacher personally escorted 300 kilograms of food and supplies as well as cash donations to what troubled country in March of this year? Its economy is 3.2 times the size of Canada's. (May 1)
41) West Vancouver Canadian Action Party candidate vowed to target a single hazard if elected to Parliament in May's election. What was it? It can be seen in Burrard Inlet twice a week. (May 1)
42) Five teens were rescued from Cypress Bowl by helicopter May 4 when they got stuck in snow on their way down the mountain. How had they been descending from the peak? It wasn't by foot, ski or snowboard. (May 6)
43) Five men went to jail April 20 when they allegedly robbed a Burnaby cellphone company and were stopped by a pair of witnesses who happened to see the entire thing from their parking spot. What government agency did the witnesses work for - unfortunately for the men? (May 6)
44) What non-political competition prompted the provincial government to reschedule a North-Shorewide conference call intended to allow the public to voice concerns about the HST in Early May? (May 11)
45) What was a 57-year-old British Properties resident accused of keeping in her home May 16 that ultimately resulted in a trafficking charge? There was no contraband involved. (May 18)
46) What reappeared on Grouse Mountain May 11 after five months out of sight? They were about 100 kilograms lighter than they were last seen. (May 18)
47) A 12-and 13-year-old were arrested May 15 for an alleged crime spree up the length of Lonsdale Avenue. They hadn't hurt anyone or broken or stolen anything. Rather, they had added some 200 of these to the neighbourhood. What were they? (May 18)
48) The province gave North Vancouver's Hydrogen Technology Energy Corporation $870,000 May 16 for a project that was supposed to increase transportation efficiency roughly tenfold. What would the money allow the company to do to its hydrogen? (May 20)
49 Police recovered a 150foot-long metallic object they believed to be stolen May 21. Often the target of theft, it was being towed by a man on a bicycle, but wasn't getting in the way of traffic. What was it? (May 25)
JUNE
50) A man barely escaped with his life May 31 when he was plucked, cold and soaked, from the snow on Mount Fromme at 1 a.m. The incident sparked a warning from rescuers about proper outdoor gear. What basic item of clothing was the man missing? It's one that's hard to forget. (June 1)
51) What longstanding ballot convention gives certain candidates an unfair advantage in municipal elections, according to some District of North Vancouver councillors? (June 1)
52) A 25-year-old Coquitlam man was stopped and searched by North Vancouver RCMP outside a McDonald's May 17. They found a bag of marijuana on him, which they confiscated. When he went to the detachment the following day to complain, what happened? (June 3)
53) A 32-year-old North Vancouver fraud artist was sent to jail for six months June 2 for a number of crimes, including impersonation. Who, according to his investigators, had he been impersonating? (June 5)
54) A pair of jerseys was stolen from the backs of two highprofile stony-faced Canucks fans June 4, leading police to consider criminal charges. Why didn't the victims complain? (June 8)
55) What was unusual about a hitchhiker that caused Edmonton Oiler Gilbert Brulé to give him a ride on the way through West Vancouver May 31? The decision scored Brulé a pair of U2 tickets. (June 8)
56) What $400-million dollar piece of infrastructure will be appearing in North Vancouver's Norgate neighbourhood within 10 years, prompting some residents to raise a stink? (June 8)
57) Retired North Vancouver schoolteacher Richard Loney has gained fame in British Columbia singing just one song for 40 years. Not a household name, but certainly a household face. What song has he been singing? (June 10)
58) A North Vancouver T-shirt company was preparing for a windfall sale in early June, with a plan to emblazon 8,000 shirts in a single night for sale the following day. On June 15, the plan fell through in spectacular fashion. What was to be printed on the T-shirts? (June 12)
59) At a District of North Vancouver public hearing June 14 some Deep Cove residents spoke out strongly against a store that had planned an opening in their neighbourhood, saying it would endanger their children. What plant product was going to be sold there? (June 17)
60) What happened June 15 that interrupted all transit service into downtown Vancouver? (June 17)
61) What national event got in the way of the Harvest Project's annual fundraising drive in June? (June 24)
62) Angel Restoration installed a vehicle refuelling station on North Vancouver's Rupert Street. Very few vehicles can use it, however. Why? (June 26)
ANSWERS
1) A Halloween costume
2) Baby Jesus
3) Property values
4) A cell tower
5) Olympic tickets
6) Michael Ignatieff
7) Police officer
8) A stallion
9) A written threat
10) He chased after and caught a bank robber.
11) Oysters
12) MLA
13) A tree
14) Car tires
15) The man who had allegedly smashed it.
16) Calls to 9-1-1
17) The West Vancouver police.
18) Someone phoned and told them to.
19) His teeth
20) Wind power
21) A survey pin
22) The ocean
23) The lighthouse
24) A tsunami
25) Wealth. Jim Pattison received the ranking from Forbes Magazine.
26) The disaster at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi power plant
27) A ferry crash in Horseshoe Bay
28) Two motorcycles
29) Genetically modified salmon
30) Radioactive particles
31) Penalties for late property
tax payments
32) Immobilizers
33) Medication
34) Their dog
35) Up a 15-storey crane
36) A 50-cubic-metre boulder
37) Litres of water
38) Member of Parliament
39) Canada
40) Japan
41) Oil tankers
42) By bicycle
43) The Royal Canadian Mounted Police
44) The NHL playoffs
45) A human being
46) Grouse's captive grizzlies, Grinder and Coola
47) Graffiti tags
48) Compress it into a liquid
49) Copper wire
50) Shoes
51) The alphabetization of candidate names
52) They gave it back. He was a licenced user.
53) His investigators
54) They were lion statues
55) U2 frontman Bono
56) A wastewater treatment plant
57) "O Canada" (at Canucks home games)
58) A Canucks 2011 Stanley Cup Champions design
59) Medical marijuana
60) The Stanley Cup riot
61) The Canada Post lockout
62) It's for electric cars.
