As the year 2025 draws to a close, CTV News London has unveiled the list of stories that most captured the attention of its readers over the past twelve months. The top ten most-clicked articles reflect a year of significant legal changes, dramatic weather events, local achievements, and compelling human-interest stories from across the region and the nation.
Headline Stories: Laws, Weather, and Local Triumphs
A major focus for readers was impending legislation, with a story detailing new Ontario laws coming into effect in 2026 ranking highly. This indicates a strong public interest in how provincial regulations will shape daily life in the coming year. Similarly, the full implementation of the new grocery code of conduct on January 1 was a key topic, speaking to concerns about affordability and industry practices.
Harsh Canadian weather also dominated the list. Readers were keenly following forecasts for a bitterly cold New Year's Eve in Toronto and bracing for a blast of winter in several Canadian cities. Other notable weather stories included a blizzard and freezing temperatures forecast for northern Manitoba, and ongoing snow squalls leading to road closures and police urging drivers to stay off closed highways in Ontario.
Local success stories provided bright spots. A London lotto player winning Ontario's first $80-million jackpot was a hugely popular piece of local news. On a national scale, the announcement that Canada was set to reveal its men's Olympic hockey roster ahead of the NHL's return to the Games generated significant excitement among sports fans.
National News and Human Interest
The list shows that CTV News London's audience engages deeply with national issues. The appointment of notable figures like Ottawa Hospital’s Dr. John Bell and restaurateur Stephen Beckta to the Order of Canada was widely read, as was the news of Ellie Black among Nova Scotians appointed to the Order. A tragic story about the remains of an Ottawa man discovered in a community east of North Bay also resonated with readers.
Human-interest and public safety incidents featured prominently. A Vancouver Island family was left on edge after a cougar climbed onto their deck and killed a pet cat, a story that appeared multiple times in the yearly recap. Other incidents included a fatal tow truck operator collision in Wellington County, a bus driver stopped twice for driving on a closed highway in South Bruce, and a multi-vehicle crash involving a transport truck on Highway 11.
Reflections and Looking Ahead
The year-end list also included reflective pieces, such as Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck's thoughts on the economic uncertainty of 2025. In the sports world, the struggling Vancouver Canucks' woes on home ice were a point of concern for fans, with a player expressing, "I wish I had an answer."
From a devastating water-main break causing significant flooding blocks from 2024's catastrophic rupture to the cancellation of Guelph's Rotary Club fireworks show, the top stories of 2025 painted a picture of a year marked by challenges, resilience, and community focus. As readers clicked through these headlines, they demonstrated a consistent appetite for news that impacts their wallets, their safety, their community pride, and their national identity.
