A bottle drive and a notorious bear here are some of CBC Calgary's top videos of 2022

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:

A 6-year-old Calgarian has collected thousands of bottles to help people in Ukraine affected by war

3 years ago

Duration 2:16

River Backwell filled his backyard and garage with bottles he collected in a fundraiser to help people in Ukraine. His total is pushing five figures.

20 birds escape

In November, 20 ostriches descended upon the streets of Taber, Alta., promptinga 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, saidCpl. 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:

Escaped ostriches prompt Mountie response in southern Alberta

2 years ago

Duration 0:32

After approximately 20 ostriches escaped from their enclosure near Taber, Alta., RCMP officers were called in to help the owner wrangle the birds.

Protest forMahsa 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:

Protest in Calgary following the death of Mahsa Amini

2 years ago

Duration 1:14

The death of a young woman in Iran has sparked outrage around the world, including here in Calgary. A protest was held in Tomkins Park Wednesday evening.

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?:

Does the Stanley Cup float?

2 years ago

Duration 0:30

Colorado Avalanche players Cale Makar and Logan O'Connor took the cup on a tour of Calgary's Bow River this week.

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 resum of dominance is legendary.

WATCH l Photographer Jason Bantle captured this video of notorious Bear No. 122, otherwise known as The Boss:

This bear is The Boss

2 years ago

Duration 0:50

Photographer Jason Leo Bantle was travelling between Banff and Lake Louise when he stumbled upon fresh tracks on a roadway they belonged to Bear 122 otherwise known as The Boss.

How to build a Red River cart

Red River carts have long been an important part of Mtis 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:

Rocky Mountain House man learned how to build Red River carts an important symbol to Mtis people

2 years ago

Duration 3:32

Even with no screws or nails, these sturdy carts were an important part of nation-building for the Mtis people.

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:

Those who compete in horse relay call it the original extreme sport, organized chaos

2 years ago

Duration 2:47

Big Tobacco Relay is a new family-based team formed by racing veterans from the Siksika Nation.

Remembering Queen Elizabeth II

Albertans reflectedon 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, peopleand major events in its history.

Remembering Queen Elizabeth II's trips to Alberta

2 years ago

Duration 1:02

She visited Alberta six times, one as princess and five 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:

Why the Tsuut'ina Nation describes its buffalo paddock as the 'heart of the nation'

2 years ago

Duration 3:44

For more than 40 years, Tsuut'ina Nation members have taken care of a buffalo herd located in the middle of the community. In November, the herd is rounded up to be weighed, dewormed, vaccinated and tagged.

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?:

How big was the fish?

2 years ago

Duration 0:58

Braeden Rouse felt a tug on his line and after a half-hour struggle landed a sturgeon.

With files from Jade Markus, Joel Dryden, Omar Sherif, David Mercer, James Young, Monty Kruger, Tarini Fernando, Taylor Simmons