One thing is abundantly clear: Original, enterprise content wins the day in terms of what work of ours LiveWire Calgary readers enjoy the most.
As we round up the top 10 LWC stories by views for 2023, the top stories cover the gamut but are focused on the city and the communities within it.
NOTE: The top read page this year – by far – was not necessarily a story, but it was information. Our page that showed updated Alberta Election results via the vote tally feed they provided garnered a whopping 150,269 views. There were thousands of people on the feed at any one time as Alberta election results trickled in.
We’ll start our top 10 most-read stories after that one, as we look at the content you were interested in throughout 2023.
10.) Calgary Police to begin using e-ticketing for traffic violations – 14,504 views
In February, Calgary Police Commission members were informed that the Calgary Police Service would be rolling out e-ticketing for the first time over the summer. They estimated it would save them $700,000 annually.
9.) Stampede, Rotary Dream Home, Kinsmen prize winners announced – 15,878 views
When you purchase a ticket that could win you big prizes during the Calgary Stampede, you want to know IMMEDIATELY if you won. So did nearly 16,000 others.
8.) Maze gates to be phased out of Calgary communities – 16,167 views
Those pesky maze gates that, for many, present an impediment to using Calgary’s vast pathway network, are going to be phased out over time, according to the city. There are more than 1,000 of the gates in the city.
7.) Calgary Plus 15 access could be limited Monday due to planned protest – 16,168 views
This was a recent original story that came to us as a tip that some building owners would be limiting access to Calgary’s Plus 15 network, due to an “educational takeover” by those wanting to shed light on atrocities against Palestinians happening in Gaza.
6.) Calgarian pays up to avoid risky travel scenario as WestJet pilot strike looms – 17,399 views
Remember in 2023 when there was the threat of a WestJet pilot strike just as the May long weekend was coming up? One Calgarian emptied the cupboards to ensure he had a flight back from Mexico where he was attending a bachelor party.
5.) Two shot and killed by Calgary police after a brief pursuit – 19,115 views
This story is the result of one of our guiding story principles of being First, Best or Unique (2/3 usually wins out) or FiBU. We saw this one come in via police and jumped on it right away…, and then the internet took over. One of only three in the top 10 that weren’t original stories.
4.) ‘It’s a place where human dignity can be recaptured’: Plan for Greyhound site gains steam – 21,110 views
A master’s project that prescribed a new use for the vacant Greyhound station site in southwest Calgary gained a lot of attention in the spring of 2023, and support from those who believe that this would be the ideal place to create a support hub for unhoused Calgarians.
3.) Vivo opens first-of-its-kind indoor park, brand new amenities in expansion – 26,432 views
People in north Calgary love their Vivo, and this story, largely uncovered by other Calgary media, was a big hit with residents in that area.
2.) ‘This is amazing’: Calgary approves new housing strategy – 26,781
This story was the culmination of an ongoing saga that dovetailed the city’s new corporate housing strategy and the increasing unaffordability of both home ownership and rents in Calgary. It wasn’t without hiccups though and will provide more story fodder in 2024.
1.) Calgary orders Stage One water restrictions – 27,587 views
Our most read story of the year, while being triggered initially by a City of Calgary news release (that we were first to jump on), has spurred several additional LWC stories on water conservation and what could lie ahead when it comes to water restrictions.
