What a year you've had - we've compiled a short list of Abbotsford and Mission's top stories of 2011. Check the Times pages for even more highlights of the year. See you in 2012!

January's big story:

Abbotsford chamber wants city to divorce FVRD

The Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce said it wants the city to leave the Fraser Valley Regional District.

The business group says Abbotsford is spending millions on services that benefit the FVRD member communities more than Abbotsford.

"It's the issue of large urban centres supporting the rural outback, so to speak," said chamber executive director David Hull.

The province is likely to balk at the idea, he said, but that shouldn't stop the city from sticking up for itself.

The FVRD includes six municipalities and seven electoral areas. The entity provides a number of services to the rural areas, including 9-1-1, parks, waste management, and water and sewer in some areas. Directors speak on behalf of their constituents in matters such gravel mining operations.

Mayor George Peary was waiting on a city staff report on the ACOC proposal before commenting. Abbotsford Coun. Patricia Ross, also FVRD chairwoman, said the regional district works on reducing costs and ensuring an equitable distribution of services and costs among its members.

"We do not necessarily agree with (the ACOC's) conclusions," she said.

February's big story:

CT cancer scans misread at Abbotsford hospital

Ten patients who underwent computerised tomography scans at Abbotsford Regional Hospital were originally misdiagnosed, Fraser Health reported on Feb. 13 at a press meeting.

An internal review of 170 patients in Abbotsford and Chilliwack hospitals found 10 CT scans were misread last summer by a part-time radiologist whose work is also being reviewed in the Interior and Vancouver Coastal health regions, said Fraser Health CEO Dr. Nigel Murray.

Four patients may have had cancer, he said.

A total of 3,400 patients in province are involved, with 140 patients requiring further tests, he reported.

The investigation began after the part-time radiologist in question left the province to return to Ontario. His work was reviewed along with another radiologist.

John Moser, 76, the father of Fraser Valley resident Laura Moser, died from cancer. She said he had been denied treatment after several CT scans had come back negative for cancer. She said her father was one of the patients from Powell River whose scans were misanalyzed. She also received a letter saying her own CT scan may have been misread.

March's big story:

Abbotsford's anti-harm reduction bylaws boost HIV rate

Brian Gross of the Fraser Valley Positive Living Society, says Abbotsford's anti-harm reduction bylaw may be having the unintended consequence of increasing rates of HIV infection in the region.

"Abbotsford's harm reduction bylaw not only keeps proven life-saving material such as clean needles from those who need them, but (also) sends the messages to drug users that their lives aren't important," said Gross.

New Fraser Health figures show that HIV infection rates in the health authority's east region are up in both straight and gay populations. Straight transmission rates are up 13 per cent in 1996 to 42 per cent in 2007. Rates for gay men have nearly tripled to 32 per cent in 2007.

The city's needle distribution ban increases the risk of HIV spreading HIV, and it means there are fewer opportunities for outreach workers to build connections with those who are infected. Research has shown that treating those with HIV significantly reduces new infections, said Gross.

B.C. recently began a $4-million pilot program to improve HIV prevention services. The city has been reviewing its harm reduction bylaw for more than a year.

April's big story:

Abbotsford goes solo with Stave Lake P3 plan

Abbotsford council moves forward with a P3 water project proposal for Stave Lake without the support of its water system partner, the District of Mission.

Abbotsford mayor George Peary said the council will go ahead with the vote to submit the P3 water project request for federal funding as decided at a council meeting on April 4.

"At the moment, our belief is we will carry on, and if the application is accepted [for federal funding] it's full steam ahead," said Peary.

That same night, Mission district councillors voted 4-3 against submitting a proposal to Public Private Partnerships Canada after facing loud public opposition.

Part of the plan was for Mission and Abbotsford to seek funding for 25 per cent of the project, or a little more than $71 million, from P3 Canada. Peary said costs would be reduced slightly with Mission's departure.

"We would pay for the whole thing and if some day they needed water, they could buy it, at a premium since they opted out of any capital investment," said Peary.

May's big story:

Heat hockey deficit grows

The Abbotsford Heat AHL franchise is projected to cost the city $1.2 million, instead of the initial projection of $724,000.

Abbotsford city manager Frank Pizzuto said the discrepancy was due to an error that evaluated the 2010 numbers, without taking into account the entire 2010/2011 season.

Accounting for the full season bumps the projected losses by an additional $476,000, he said.

Costs to the city are the result of a 10-year supply fee contract that guarantees the Heat ownership group revenue of $5.7 million annually. Poor public attendance is the main cause of the projected deficit, said Pizzuto.

The Abbotsford Heat has averaged audiences of 3,807 fans in the last season, which was actually below the inaugural season in 2009/2010, when the club saw an average of 3,897 fans in the seat at each game.

The Heat also missed the Calder Cup playoffs in 2011, which meant the franchise missed out on potential additional revenue.

When the attendance is down, sales from food and beverage will also be down.

If the projections are accurate, Abbotsford could see net losses of $1.7 million from the past two seasons.

June's big story:

Lobbyists out to slay, save HST

Abbotsford agricultural executives rallied in Abbotsford on June 15 to lend their support for the proposed 10 per cent Harmonized Sales Tax, or HST.

The refitted HST would help the agricultural sector grow over the next two years, said Garnet Etsell, chairman of the B.C. Agricultural Council. In contrast, reverting to the PST/GST would hinder it, he said.

Etsell predicted that if the anti-HST camp is successful in the coming referendum, going back to a Provincial Sales Tax and Good & Services tax regime would cost agriculture more than $20 million a year.

"It would be simply one more death nail in our ability to provide local food," he said.

"It helps agribusiness owners like me to get a bigger bang for our buck with our investments in equipment, suppliers and for our staff," said Bill Vanderkooi, owner of the Bakerview Ecodairy, where the agriculture sector leaders held their press event.

NDP leader Adrian Dix was in Abbotsford and Mission to fuel the campaign to scrap the new HST tax and return to the old PST/GST system. He said the HST is bad for small business and the economy in general.

July's big story:

Bassi dies in hit and run

The Abbotsford community mourns the loss of student Desmond Bassi after he was killed in a fatal hit-and-run in the early hours of July 23.

The 17-year-old W. J. Mouat Secondary student was struck by a car on Blueridge Drive while walking home from a party.

The teen was a talented football receiver with the Mouat Hawks and a skilled basketball player.

Two other Abbotsford teenagers, the passenger and driver in the car suspected of striking Bassi, turned themselves in to police in the late afternoon the day of the crash.

The RCMP assumed responsibility for the crash from the Abbotsford Police when it was discovered Bassi was related to an APD officer.

It was not clear why the two young men waited an extended period of time before turning themselves in, said police, adding it could be that the car's occupants weren't aware they'd struck someone.

However, it was also noted it can also be a tactic for drivers who may have been driving under the influence of alcohol.

Investigators planned to look into the actions of the suspected driver that night.

August's big story:

Harper heads temple's 100th

Thousands of spectators and a host of dignitaries, including Prime Minister Stephen Harper, assembled at Abbotsford's historic Gur Sikh Temple to celebrate the building's centennial anniversary this August.

The press of people, within and outside the temple's gates, shouted traditional greetings in unison as guest speakers took the stage to venerate North America's longest-standing Sikh temple and to honour the pioneers who constructed it.

Harper said the temple, or gurdwara, which became a national historic site in 2002, acts as a shrine to Sikhism in Canada and symbolized Canada's role as a sanctuary for the world.

"It is an honour for me to be here today to celebrate the Gur Sikh Temple's 100th anniversary," he said.

"On this occasion, we reflect on the tremendous contributions of the Sikh community in Canada - a community that continues to play an important role in building our strong, dynamic society while taking great pride in their faith and traditions."

The temple was symbolic of the courage, hardships and perseverance of Sikh pioneers, Harper added.

September's big story:

Back to school teachers' strike

Abbotsford and Mission students heading back to school in September faced more than a new curriculum.

Teachers in both school districts voted in June with their provincial peers to undertake a phased strike at the start of the school year.

Abbotsford District Teachers' Association and Mission Teachers' Union members have been waging a "teach only" campaign since the first day of classes on Sept. 6.

Class instruction, communication with parents and extra-curricular activities were continued during the fall but other administrative and bureaucratic duties were cut.

Principals rather than teachers have had to do schoolyard supervision and teachers aren't attending staff meetings or entering data into the province-wide electronic reporting system.

MTU president Mike Trask said the first phase of the job action eliminates teachers' "busy work."

The job action is part of a push to achieve three bargaining objectives: improved salaries and benefits; the right to shape class size and composition in contracts; and moving the bargaining process from a provincial to local level.

October's big story:

Floodgates open as Peary pitches P3

The City of Abbotsford launched its public education campaign Oct. 3 around the proposed public-private partnership water project at Stave Lake in advance of a public referendum on the issue during the upcoming municipal elections.

The scope of the P3 plan, projected to cost $291 million, includes a new water source, pump station, treatment plant and water mains based at Stave Lake in Mission.

Mayor George Peary noted that under the Community Charter the city must seek voters' approval to authorize the borrowing of capital and to enter into the long-term agreement necessary for the project to go ahead.

"If we don't have another source of water in five years it will be a very different city," he said.

The public education campaign - which was launched at Calais Farms a bell pepper greenhouse operation - wasn't embraced by everyone.

Critics of the P3 proposal and campaign, particularly the group Water Watch Mission-Abbotsford, called on the city to seek public funding not tied to a P3 plan and to not allow a private company to operate the system.

November's big story:

Banman, Adlem in, P3, Peary out

Abbotsford's Stave Lake P3 proposal went down the drain, taking with it Mayor George Peary - who was beaten by political newcomer Bruce Banman in the civic election Nov. 19.

The $291-million Stave Lake P3 water project spearheaded by Peary was overwhelmingly rejected by 74 per cent of the voters in a referendum coinciding with the election.

Political neophyte Banman took an early lead in the polls and eventually won the mayor's seat, obtaining 43 per cent of the vote while Peary trailed behind with 40 per cent.

Other council incumbents who, with the exception of Patricia Ross, supported the P3 plan, managed to escape the public's censure and retained their seats.

District of Mission residents brought in a wholesale change to their council - electing Pete's Place Pizza owner Ted Adlem and five members of the pro-business Citizens for Responsible Municipal Government slate.

The only incumbent and the only woman at the district council table will be Jenny Stevens.

Adlem shared his victory party with long-time friend and Abbotsford-Mission MLA Randy Hawes.

December's big story:

Teens stay mum after brutal brawl

Abbotsford Police were frustrated at the lack of cooperation from witnesses after a roving brawl Dec. 10 between two groups of teenagers injured three youths, one of whom is struggling for his life in hospital.

"The most seriously injured is not doing well," said Const. Ian MacDonald.

"He was basically struck in the head at least once, maybe more, with a baseball bat. I would describe his condition as critical."

A second 19-year-old male, also suffering head injuries, is doing better but remains in hospital for continued observation.

A third youth, 17, was released with after being treated for a non-life threatening cut to his abdomen.

Investigators are getting very little in the way of concrete information from the dozens and dozens of witnesses at all the sites where the moving dispute flared up, said MacDonald.

"We have a young man clinging to life in hospital and as many as 50 people - victims or witnesses - at the various scenes, and nobody is saying what's transpired. That's extremely frustrating."