Year in review: The top 10 local news stories of 2024

CTV Kitchener is taking a look back the biggest moments of 2024.

We’re revisiting the local stories that defined the year and changed our community.

Watch CTV Kitchener News at Six as we continue our countdown.

You can also click the links below to read our original reporting or watch the stories in the video player at the top of this page.

#10 - Jersey sold at Guelph charity auction sparks significant controversy 

What started off as a silent auction in Guelph, ended up generating a lot of noise.

A Kansas City Chiefs jersey, advertised as being signed by Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift, was one the items up for grabs at the annual Linamar Curling for Kids Bonspiel and Auction, held in support of the Guelph Wish Fund for kids living with illnesses and injuries.

The jersey, along with a certificate of authenticity, went for $21,000. But shortly after the auction, people in the sports memorabilia business raised concerns over the authenticity of the signatures and the jersey itself.

Scott Johnston made the donation through his sports memorabilia business. When CTV News reached out to Johnston about the allegations he said, in part: “Everyone is entitled to their opinion.”

Travis Kelce's jersey signed by the tight end and his superstar girlfriend Taylor Swift. (Source: Twitter/Helen Loftin)

The winning bidder contacted CTV News after our story aired. She wanted to verify for herself, so she contacted Beckett Authentication Services.

“It, of course, did not pass,” the winning bidder later told CTV News. She eventually got a refund, but it was not clear who from.

Johnston ignored multiple requests for an interview but continued to communicate over email. One response to CTV News referred to the Beckett authentication process as “bullshit.”

A profile for Johnston still lists autographed memorabilia on Facebook Marketplace.

Linamar, who hosted the auction, and the Guelph Wish Fund described the situation as unfortunate and expressed their hope that all concerns were settled. Both said the focus going forward will be on making children’s dreams come true.

#9 – Rise of Renovictions

Renovictions were a hot topic in the Region of Waterloo, and much of Ontario, in 2024.

Residents have complained that they’ve been kicked out of their homes for seemingly unnecessary renovations and then find out their rent has gone up upon their return.

ACORN, a tenant rights union, has named one man as the “largest renovictor in Ontario.”

“Michael Klein tends to buy older buildings, where the rents are lower because they’re rent-controlled, where there’s been tenants that have been living there for years, if not decades, many who are low income, retired on fixed incomes, workers and families,” said the local ACORN co-chair Jacquie Wells.

Tracking down Klein has also been challenging.

“[It] starts off by renaming the company owning the building,” Wells explained. “It’s often either a number company or a company that is just named after the address. And he separates himself, so it’s very hard for tenants to actually know who the owner is of their building.”

He’s alleged to have multiple properties between London, Waterloo Region and Toronto.

Acorn and Borden Avenue tenants at a protest in Kitchener on Oct. 2, 2024. (Krista Sharpe/CTV News)

ACORN has been very vocal about pushing for tenant protections.

“It can’t just be affordable housing,” insisted ACORN member Ken Vogelpohl. “There needs to be action from the city and the Region of Waterloo to protect people who already have a home.”

Residents of 250 Frederick St. rally against renovictions outside Kitchener City Hall on May 8, 2024. (Stefanie Davis/CTV News Kitchener)

The City of Kitchener passed a rental replacement bylaw in the summer. It states that a property owner with six or more rental units must provide alternative housing, or compensation, if they plan to demolish their building. The bylaw does not, however, ban renovictions.

The City of Hamilton is the first Ontario municipality to implement an anti-renoviction bylaw, which is set to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.

#8 – Waterloo couple detained in Punta Cana over suspected cocaine

A winter getaway to the Dominican Republic turned into a nightmare for a Waterloo couple.

They, along with 12 other passengers, were detained for several hours at the Punta Cana International Airport after security officers suspected they had drugs in their luggage.

“When we walked into the room there was a white substance on the table,” Jamie Yanke told CTV News. “They explained that they will be testing the product for cocaine on a test wipe.”

Henrik Andersen of Toronto was also taken in for questioning, along with his family.

“It was actually my daughter, my 8-year-old, whose suitcase it was,” he said, adding that the test came back positive for cocaine.

The white powder actually turned out to a package of DampRid, a moisture absorber often used by passengers when traveling to humid destinations.

#7 – Tornado touches down in Ayr

A powerful EF-2 tornado tore through Ayr on Aug. 17, leaving widespread damage in its wake.

A possible funnel cloud can be seen near Ayr, Ont. on August 17, 2024. (Shelby Knox/CTV News)

The Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP) said the twister caused “EF1 structural damage and EF2 tree damage along a narrow path over seven kilometres in length and nearly 400 metres at its widest.”

Drone image shows significant damage to the warehouse roof of a hardware store. (Source: Northern Tornadoes Project)

Mayor Sue Foxton said while it was a scary experience for the community she was proud of how residents united to help clean up.

More on the cost of the damage, and extent of the rebuilding efforts, will be shared in the new year.

Ground photo showing empty railcars overturned and a large grain loader arm thrown across them. (Courtesy: Northern Tornadoes Project)

According to NTP, Ontario averages 18 tornadoes a year and they usually occur between May and September. That has earned Ontario the title of tornado capital of the country.

#6 – Guilty plea and sentencing for University of Waterloo stabber

Geovanny Villalba-Aleman plead guilty to four assault-related charges for a triple stabbing at the University of Waterloo on June 28, 2023.

Court heard that Villalba-Aleman, an international student and recent graduate, walked into a gender studies class and stabbed the professor in the face and arm. One student was stabbed in the back and another had injuries to their hand and arm. He also tried to stab a fourth person but they got away.

The attack lasted approximately two minutes and the entirety was captured on an audio recording. It was later played in court, along with police body camera footage where Villalba-Aleman initially pretended to be a victim but then admitted: “It was me.”

Waterloo Regional Police pat Geovanny Villalba-Aleman down after he stabbed three people at the University of Waterloo.

Villalba-Aleman’s ideologies were debated during the sentencing phase of the trial as the court will have to decide if he’ll be convicted on a terrorism charge. If found guilty, he could be deported after serving his sentence.

Villalba-Aleman will be back in court on Jan. 27, 2025.

#5 – Dutchie’s workers fight for back pay

Multiple workers at Dutchie’s Fresh Market in Kitchener claimed they were not paid all their wages.

Among them, four recent immigrants from Ukraine.

“He didn’t pay me five checks,” said one.

“It’s $7,000,” said another. “It’s a loss. It’s very big for us.”

More workers came forward after that first story aired on CTV News.

“Whenever I’d ask, they kind of gave us the runaround,” said former employee Jacob Ketross.

Vendors and contractors also claimed the grocer did not honour their contracts or missed payments.

CTV News uncovered records that showed Dutchie’s and its business director, Michael Renkema, had at least 23 orders to pay for violations under the Employment Standards Act. The total amount owed was more than $188,000.

The Ministry of Finance also had seven orders to pay against Dutchie’s and Renkema totalling $469,000.

In August, the Parkway Drive store permanently closed.

The Dutchie’s story caught the attention of Queen’s Park in September, but ultimately, little was done to strengthen laws against wage theft.

In December, Renkema plead guilty to 13 charges under the Employment Standards Act. His sentencing hearing will be held on Feb. 4, 2025.

Dutchie's Fresh Food Market in Kitchener, Ont. is seen on March 14, 2024. (Dan Lauckner/CTV Kitchener)

#4 – Erick Buhr guilty in second-degree murder of his grandmother

A jury found Erick Buhr guilty of killing his grandmother, 88-year-old Viola Erb, a little more than two years after she was found dead in their home outside of Baden.

During the trial, Buhr testified in his own defense. He refuted the GPS data, from his ankle monitor, which was presented in court. He also admitted he lied to police multiple times about not changing his bloody clothes after finding his grandmother badly injured in the kitchen.

Then the trial took an unexpected turn.

Erick Buhr (left, in a police photo) and Viola Erb (right, courtesy of Mark Jutzi Funeral Homes).

After the defense presented its case, Buhr fired his lawyer and asked for a mistrial, arguing his rights had been violated.

The judge denied the request and a few days later Buhr delivered his own closing address to the jury.

They found him guilty of second-degree murder which comes with an automatic life sentence. A judge will have to decide the length of time before Buhr can apply for parole.

He’s scheduled to return to court on Jan. 27, 2025.