A look back at some of our favourite Calgary Citizen stories from 2021

Oh, 2021 — what a beast of a year that was!It’s been a whirlwind since Calgary Citizen launched on May 25 and we’ve covered many different stories, including not only a municipal election but also a federal election, and the ongoing pandemic.Our team was able to bring you heartwarming stories, stories that make you think, stories that make you angry, and stories that give you hope.We’ve talked to unsung heroes who aren’t household names but are making a difference in their communities.Whether we were covering the big stories or the hidden gems, we enjoyed telling the stories of Calgary and its people over the past seven months.

Here are our favourite stories of 2021. We hope you enjoy this stroll down memory lane with us.

One of my favourite interviews of the year was with Jann Arden, who was a childhood icon of mine. I enjoyed getting to know her passions and what she loves about our city.

This story about the theft of catalytic converters elicited a lot of feedback from our readers because it’s an issue that affects everyone across the city.

I loved getting to know this police sketch artist and what goes into those suspect drawings that often prompt a lot of laughter — and memes — across social media.

It might be a corner store, but there is nothing ordinary about Inglewood’s The Blue Store, which has become a beloved community destination.

Love him or hate him, former mayor Naheed Nenshi was passionate about Calgary, and that was never more evident than through his everyday interactions with Calgarians.

Sometimes we had to get serious. This story about harassment in the craft brewing industry hit close to home for a lot of people and prompted important conversations.

It was fun getting to know one of Calgary’s most haunted neighbourhoods and the stories that keep Inglewood residents up at night.

You probably know about the camaraderie between firefighters, but did you know how much money our local firefighters put back into the local economy?

We love learning about local history and this story about the beginnings of the historic Club Carousel that was loved by many.

From the weird to the wacky to the downright dangerous, we spoke with the city to find out what Calgarians are putting into their garbage and recycling and it wasn’t pretty.

What are some of your favourite stories this year?