Results: In The Spotlight For All The Wrong Reasons

The small town of Port Alberni, British Columbia, on Vancouver Island, is almost completely surrounded by mountains, that provide hiking, walking, and mountain biking trails. It also provides an opportunity to view wildlife, including deer and black bears. The city is also known for its fishing. Its waters contain five different species of salmon and yearly runs of steelhead. This little picturesque town has seen its share of visitors, mostly for the nature and fishing, but recently it is gaining notoriety for the wrong reasons -- it is the home town of teenage murder suspects, who earlier this summer went on a killing spree. Both Bryer Schmegelsky and Kam McLeod, the primary suspects of the recent murders of a tourist couple and University of British Columbia professor, were subjects of a nationwide manhunt. They both were found weeks after an extensive search, dead from self-inflicted gun shots. So, now the focus is on the town where grieving and healing has begun, but will probably long carry the stigma of this association. Is your home town or where you now reside famous for something as infamous as this town?

Port Alberni has had other notable residents far more appealing than the two murder suspects. Do you recognize any of these famous people that were born in this town?

It's hard for a town or city to erase the stigma associated with a horrible event or infamous resident, and rebuild its reputation. New York City suffered greatly after the tragic events of 9/11, in terms of tourism and business. But the city is slowly regaining its reputation as a tourist city, and rebuilding the site of the horrific tragedy. Have you been to the site of the attacks, and what did you think?

Not every town is adversely affected by being known for a famous (or infamous) resident or event. How many of these towns do you associate with these?