Weekly wrap: Tragedy in Abbotsford, expensive rentals and a shark attack

Each week we put together a list of some of the stories you might have missed: those which dominated the news agenda, and some we just can't resist retelling.

When terrible tragedies like the stabbingsin Abbotsfordtake place, we know our audience wants to know as much information as possible, fast.

So it's no surprise that articles related to what police are calling arandom attackwere the top-read stories on our site this week.

This tragic incident left13-year-old Letisha Reimerdead and wounded another 14-year-old girl, whose name is under a publication ban. Family and friends describe the deceased victim as a vivacious teen with a zeal for life.

Police still have very little information on the suspect, Gabriel Brandon Klein. They say the 21-year-old was of "no fixed address" and likely hailed from Alberta.

While it's not clear whether mental illness played a role in what Klein is accused of doing, advocates say this and other alarming attacks should shine a light on an inconsistent and inadequate mental health system.

It's worth noting that avideo of the fatal stabbing continues to circulate widely on the internet,CBC chose not to broadcast it.

If you haven't yet, do read this piece from our reporter Lisa Johnson about why it's difficult, but necessary to not look away fromvideos like these.

Racist ranter turns himself in

Another big story on our site this week was related to a racist tirade caught on video in Abbotsford.

The man who posted the video said he did so to start a dialogue about racism in the Lower Mainland. And community leaders agreed, saying that discussion on social media about the incident was a good thing.

Karry Vernon Corbetthas been charged withfour counts, including assault, uttering threatsand causing a disturbance.

On Monday, the girlfriend of the man in the video said he was planning to turn himself in.

Laila Paiman described her boyfriend as "hot tempered at times but hedoesn't have any racist issues with anybody."

Shark attack and rainy days

Of course we wouldn't be in B.C. if a real estate story didn't make our top stories list.

This week, the prize went to a story aboutcritics slamming $2,300-a-month rentals for apartments in an old building in the West End.

NDP MLASpencer Chandra Herbert said the renovated apartments signal a "crisis of unaffordability" in the city.

On a completely different note, this story about a man who survived a sharkattack in Oregon by catching a wave on a surf board, no less also made waves this week. It's well worth a read, if you haven't done so already.

News about the weather is also often a big hit, and this week's story about therecord breaking number of rainy days in Vancouverin October exemplifies that.

Because really, who doesn't like to talk about the weather?