A bottle drive and a notorious bear — here are some of CBC Calgary's top videos of 2022
Did you see the Stanley Cup on the Bow River? What about an ostrich in Taber?
As 2022 comes to a close, CBC Calgary is taking a look back at some of its top videos from this year.
Here is a selection of the stories that made headlines this year, and were among the most watched by CBC readers.
Bottle drive for Ukraine
In March, a Calgary boy started a bottle drive to help people in Ukraine affected by the war — and raised thousands of dollars.
River Backwell, who was six at the time, said when he saw images of Ukrainian children who were unsafe, he felt scared and sad for them, so he decided to start a bottle drive to raise money for the Red Cross.
WATCH l This Calgary boy filled his backyard and garage with bottles he collected in a fundraiser to help people in Ukraine:
20 birds escape
In November, 20 ostriches descended upon the streets of Taber, Alta., prompting a Mountie response.
Destiny Nanaquewetung, who works at a convenience store in the small town, was on a break when she saw an RCMP vehicle driving next to an ostrich.
She recorded a video, which she posted on social media. In the video, a man, who is the ostrich's owner, can be seen leaning out the window of an RCMP cruiser and attempting to grab the bird.
The bird in the video was one of approximately 20 ostriches, said Cpl. Troy Savinkoff, an RCMP media relations officer. The birds had escaped their enclosure, and officers were helping the owner recapture his flock.
WATCH l RCMP in Taber help ostrich owner chase down flock:
Protest for Mahsa Amini
In September, hundreds of members of the Iranian community came together to protest the death of a young woman in Iran.
Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman, died while in police custody. According to reports on social media, Amini was detained by the so-called "morality police" after officers took issue with the way she wore her hijab.
Her death sparked outrage, worldwide protests and a global call for change in the Mideast country.
WATCH | Calgarians gather in Tomkins Park to remember Mahsa Amini:
A Calgary tradition
The Calgary Flames may not have won the Stanley Cup, but the trophy still made its way to the city in August.
Colorado Avalanche players Cale Makar and Logan O'Connor took the cup on a tour of Calgary's Bow River.
That same week, hundreds of locals lined up to spend a minute with the cup.
WATCH | Does the Stanley Cup float?:
He's The Boss
In November, photographer Jason Leo Bantle was travelling between Banff and Lake Louise on his way north to the Jasper area, when he happened upon fresh tracks on a roadway.
Bantle recognized bear No. 122, otherwise known as The Boss, due to his size and his distinctive ears. The Boss is regarded as being the most dominant grizzly bear found around Banff National Park.
Weighing in at somewhere between 650 and 700 pounds (295-317 kg), the bear's resumé of dominance is legendary.
WATCH l Photographer Jason Bantle captured this video of notorious Bear No. 122, otherwise known as The Boss:
How to build a Red River cart
Red River carts have long been an important part of Métis culture, and one man from the town of Rocky Mountain House, Alta., is helping to make sure the art of building them does not disappear.
In July, CBC profiled George Moritz, who learned how to build Red River carts.
What's unique about the carts is that they're made entirely from wood — no metal nails or screws holding them together.
WATCH l This Alberta man builds wooden carts:
Big Tobacco Relay
In June, CBC profiled Big Tobacco Relay, a new family-based team formed by racing veterans from the Siksika Nation.
With horses coming and going, the rider acts as the baton in what has been dubbed the original extreme sport.
WATCH l It's a relay race, but with a human baton:
Remembering Queen Elizabeth II
Albertans reflected on the legacy of Queen Elizabeth following her death in September.
She visited Alberta on six occasions, once as princess and five times as Queen, celebrating the province's cultures, people and major events in its history.
Rounding up bison
Buffalo have roamed a 485-hectare patch of land at the heart of Tsuut'ina Nation for more than 40 years.
Every November, they're rounded up for care. Some are also sectioned off to be sold to keep the herd's numbers manageable.
Volunteers open and close a series of metal doors from a wooden walkway above as each buffalo is coaxed through the system. Each is dewormed, weighed and, at a final stop, the doors of a squeeze chute drop down to hold the animal in place for tagging and vaccination.
WATCH l The annual bison roundup on Tsuut'ina Nation:
Bragging rights
A Lethbridge, Alta., couple has permanent bragging rights after landing a huge catch in British Columbia in April.
Sidney Kozelenko and Braeden Rouse had been on a month-long fishing trip on Vancouver Island. But their biggest catch actually came after the trip was done.
Casting a reel from a kayak in the Fraser River, Rouse — after about half an hour of struggle — reeled in an estimated 2.6-metre-long sturgeon at around 159 kilograms.
WATCH l It was how big?:
With files from Jade Markus, Joel Dryden, Omar Sherif, David Mercer, James Young, Monty Kruger, Tarini Fernando, Taylor Simmons