Five most-read news stories in Mississauga this year

With some stories, you just know they’re going to be well read once posted.

With other pieces, though, their popularity with readers takes you somewhat by surprise.

Below, we take a look back at insauga.com’s most-read stories of 2021 in Mississauga, not including articles related to Pearson Airport or COVID-19 (separate most-read lists of their own).

Here are our five most-read stories of 2021:

5) Photo radar begins in Mississauga next month at these locations

The City of Mississauga unveiled its new automated speed enforcement (ASE) cameras in July, placing the first two machines on the roads (one in Malton, the other in Erin Mills).

The ASEs garnered a great deal of public interest in Mississauga and other municipalities where they were used as tools to clamp down on speeding drivers in school zones.

The enforcement cameras, of which there are now more than 20 in operation across Mississauga, are part of a broader effort by City officials to dramatically reduce or eliminate the number of fatal crashes on city roads.

4) Tolls could be added to some lanes of highways in Mississauga, Brampton and Oakville

Ugh! Very few drivers are happy about the thought of paying to use area highways, but that’s exactly what the Ontario government proposed in June.

The Province announced it was considering adding High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes to Hwys. 410 and 403 in addition to the QEW as part of a pilot project to begin in January 2022.

Motorists can apply now for permits to use the HOT lanes.

We’re expanding HOT lanes to Highway 403 in Mississauga and Highway 410 in Brampton.

Apply now for a permit to use HOT lanes on the 403, 410, and QEW starting January 2022. Learn more at https://t.co/IS0PpycwmP pic.twitter.com/ECvFYlyKJ2

— Ontario Ministry of Transportation (@ONtransport) November 24, 2021

3) VIDEO: Elon Musk’s Starlink Train passes over the skies of Mississauga and Brampton

There’s always, or usually, at least one story on any “most-read” list that’s a bit unusual or quirky–different from other news stories of the day.

And this is ours.

The May 23 article brings together a few elements that catch the attention of almost any reader: a world-famous personality, marvellous advances in technology and, of course, strange lights in the sky.

2) Illegal home construction is on the rise in Mississauga

This story came to light in early June as the City of Mississauga called on the Ontario government and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario to stamp out the activities of “rogue builders” in the city.

Essentially, these builders were completing major renovations and, in some cases, entire home builds without any building permits or other appropriate licences.

Photo: Unsplash

1) Walmart location in Mississauga permanently closing

The popularity of this story, which detailed the closing of a Malton Walmart in March as one of six locations across Canada to shut down, shows how much people depend on their large local department store/grocery store.

Mississauga Ward 5 Councillor Carolyn Parrish tweeted at the time: “Sad news for Village of Malton today. Walmart announcing the closure of their Westwood Square location…”

Photo: Westwood Square Facebook