CBC year in review: the 14 most-read stories of 2014

You compiled this list, in a way.

Unlike Newsmaker of the Year or other year-end retrospectives, our rundown of thetop 14 storiesin 2014 required no editorial decisions or judgment calls. It's simply the stories thatCBC News readers viewed more than any others, starting with a tragedy that was our singlemost read story ever.

1. Ottawa shooting

The story:

• Ottawa shooting: A day of chaos leaves soldier, gunman dead

An armed attacker fatallywoundsa Canadian Forces member at the National War Memorial before being shot dead in Parliament's Centre Block.

• CBC's complete coverage of the shooting and its aftermath

The quote:

"Let there be no misunderstanding. We will not be intimidated. Canada will never be intimidated." - Prime Minister Stephen Harper

2. Moncton shooting

The story:

• Moncton shooting 'the most horrifying, difficult experience,' victim's family says

Police scour a locked-downMoncton, N.B., looking for the shooter of three slain RCMP officers.

• TIMELINE |Moncton shooting: From lockdown to Justin Bourque's arrest

The quote:

"This is working through your worst nightmare." -Roger Brown, RCMP assistant commissioner

3. Robin Williams dies

The story:

• Robin Williams dead in apparent suicide at 63

Iconic actor-comedian Robin Williams is found dead of an apparent suicide in California.

• Robin Williams: The best remembrances

The quote:

"Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between. But he was one of a kind." - U.S. President Barack Obama

4. Calgary stabbing

The story:

• Matthew de Grood charged in Calgary's 'worst mass murder'

Matthew deGrood, the man suspected of fatally stabbing four men and a woman at a northwest Calgary house party, ischarged with five counts of first-degree murder.

• What we know about the Calgary stabbing suspect

The quote:

"This is the worst mass murder in Calgary's history." -Calgary Police Services Chief RickHanson

5. Jian Ghomeshi

The story:

• Jian Ghomeshi, host of Q, no longer with CBC

Q host Jian Ghomeshi leaves the CBC with little explanation, kicking off a scandal that will culminate with sexual assault charges against the former radio host.

• the fifth estate: The Unmaking of Jian Ghomeshi

The quote:

"... I have nothing to hide." - Jian Ghomeshi, in aFacebook posting

6. The Nathan O'Brien case

The story:

• Douglas Garland arrives to be charged with murder of Nathan O'Brien and grandparents

Douglas Garland, the man suspected in the murders of three Calgary family members, including five-year-old Nathan O'Brien, arrivesat the Calgary Police Service arrest processing unit to face multiple murder charges.

• TIMELINE|Nathan O'Brien case

The quote:

"There's always a glimmer of hope and unfortunately with the laying of the charges we've taken that away from the family. They're devastated." -Calgary Police Services Chief RickHanson

7. Dead babies discovered in Winnipeg

The story:

• Dead babies in Winnipeg storage unit 'tragic beyond belief'

Police in Winnipeg find several dead babies inside a Winnipeg storage locker.

• 100 attend vigil for 'lost little souls'

The quote:

"How does that even happen, when you sneak four infants into a storage unit and nobody sees it, nobody knows?" -Barrington Francis, who rents a storage unit in the same facility

8. Malaysia Airlines tragedies

The stories:

• Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 reportedly shot down near Ukraine-Russia border
• Malaysia Airlines MH370 debris search resumes in Indian Ocean

Malaysia Airlines had the misfortune of losing two aircraft in the same year: one shot down over Ukraine and the other mysteriously disappearing without a trace. Coincidentally, the two tragediesranked side by side on CBC's most-viewed stories of the year.

• Why airlines don't live-stream black box data

The quotes:

"We are sure that those guilty in this tragedy will be held responsible." - Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko, on MH17

"We know much more about the surface of the moon than we do about the ocean floor in that part of the Indian Ocean." - David Ferreira, an oceanographer, on the search for MH370

9.'Sergeant' Franck Gervais

The story:

• Remembrance Day 'sergeant' Franck Gervais not in the military, DND says

The Department of National Defence says Franck Gervais, a man who claimed to be a decorated soldier during this year's Remembrance Day ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, is not a member of the Canadian Forces.

• PHOTOS | Not who you think I am: a menagerie of impostors

The quote:

"The thing that really irks me about himis he has a medal for bravery on." -Jake Flanders, Airborne Regiment Association of Canada

10. Jim Flaherty dies

The story:

• Jim Flaherty, former finance minister, dead at 64

Former finance minister Jim Flahertydies suddenly, just weeks after resigning from federal cabinet.

• Jim Flaherty by the numbers

The quote:

"You could differ with him, but you never ever doubted his absolute commitment to serving the people of Canada." - Liberal MP Scott Brison

11. Philip Seymour Hoffman dies

The story:

• Philip Seymour Hoffman dead at 46

Philip Seymour Hoffman, one of the leading actors of his generation, is found dead in his Manhattan apartment ofadrug overdose.

• Some of Philip Seymour Hoffman's best performances

The quote:

"Today New York mourns the loss of one of stage and screen's greats." - New York Mayor Bill de Blasio

12. Apple product release

The story:

• Apple Watch, iPhone 6 models, Apple Pay unveiled

Apple unveils larger smartphones, a smartwatch and mobile payments, amid questions over whether the company still has a knack for innovationfollowing the 2011 death of co-founder Steve Jobs.

• ANALYSIS |Apple Watch looks cool, but it's a risky bet on fashion

The quote:

"One more thing..." - Apple CEO Tim Cook, stealing a line fromlate Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, to cheers from the crowd.

13. Winter rant

The story:

• Saskatchewan winter too much for one CBC Radio listener

An unidentified caller gives CBC Radio's Morning Edition in Saskatchewana blast about wind, winter and having to endure it year after year.

• 5 tips for keeping warm during a Canadian winter

The quote:

"I get the funny feeling that you guys are just saying [the weather isnice] so thatpeople won't just end it." - unidentified caller to CBC, on Saskatchewan's winter weather

0:01(WARNING: HARSH LANGUAGE) CBC listener rants about the weather.

CBC listener rants about the weather. (WARNING: HARSH LANGUAGE )

14. U.S. police shakedown

The story:

• ANALYSIS |American shakedown: Police won't charge you, but they'll grab your money

In our most-read analysisof 2014, senior Washington correspondent Neil Macdonald writesabout how U.S. police are operating a coordinated scheme to seize as much of the publics cash as they can.

• Neil Macdonaldalso wrote this year on America's 'chokehold police'

The quote:

"Theres a shakedown going on in the U.S., and the perps are in uniform." - Neil Macdonald