LiveWire Calgary does a lot of data journalism, so much so that it’s become a regular part of our stories.

But sometimes we use charts, maps, and other ways of telling stories through data that help to get conversations started in communities.

Here are some of the charts and maps, as selected by LWC journalist Aryn Toombs, as particularly important or interesting in 2023.

Affordability for Calgarians among the top charts for the year

It’s no surprise to any regular news readers that housing has dominated the conversation around affordability in 2023.

In September, LWC did a deep dive into the rising costs in Calgary by looking beyond just median house and condo prices, but it wasn’t our first look at the issue in 2023.

Throughout the year LWC published data on housing starts, costs for renters, and other housing-related charts to help inform our readers through a data-first approach.

The chart below—one of a series for different housing types—was produced from Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corporation Data and was a unique take on the housing affordability issue.

Housing wasn’t the only affordability issue that Calgarians faced in 2023.

The Government of Alberta extended its pause on the fuel tax through 2023, and LWC took a look at how that action was connected to the price of gasoline.