Year in Review: 10 of the top moments in Edmonton in 2017

By Joel Dryden

Whenever we turn the page on the calendar, it’s always a good idea to take a look back on the year that was. It was an exciting year in Alberta’s capital, with great new restaurants, exciting events and a certain beloved hockey team barely clinging to playoff hopes. Here are 10 of the top moments in Edmonton from this past year. [Photo courtesy of IQRemix/Flickr]

Late into the night on Sept. 30, Edmontonians were horrified to hear of an act of possible terrorism unfolding near Commonwealth Stadium. A driver had rammed into a police constable and proceeded to use a U-Haul van to attempt to drive into pedestrians.

Thankfully, the van flipped, and though five people were injured, none were killed. The work of the Edmonton Police Service is largely credited for preventing the attack from being worse than it was, thanks to their rapid response time and calm, steady response. [Photo courtesy of Mack Male/Flickr]

Though the Edmonton Oilers were pegged as an early Stanley Cup favourite prior to the season’s start, the 2017 campaign of the hockey team has been underwhelming at best. The Oilers kept the core of its roster from last year’s playoff push intact, so the slow start has been a headscratcher. Let’s hope McDavid and company can start stringing together some late-season wins and make a push. [Photo courtesy of IQRemix/Flickr]

Rogers Place continued to impress as a top-tier concert destination in Alberta, with major touring acts like Jay-Z coming to town in 2017. Other acts that hit Edmonton’s Ice District this year included The Weeknd, Coldplay and Lady Gaga. [Photo courtesy of Meaghan Lawrence]

Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson cruised to victory in the city’s 2017 election with more than 72 per cent of the vote, staying well-ahead of his closest rival Don Koziak, who pulled in nearly seven per cent. [Photo courtesy of Mac Male/Flickr]

For the last 44 years, the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) has been a fixture at Northlands Coliseum, drawing the best rodeo talent to Edmonton for a five-day extravaganza of competitive fun. But with the closure of the former home of the Oilers, 2017 could mark the final year of Finals action in Edmonton. CFR officials are still open to returning the event to Edmonton at an alternative venue, but Edmontonians may have already seen the final iteration of the event in their backyard. [Photo courtesy of IQRemix/Flickr]

From “bingsu” (Korean shaved ice) to plant-based junk food, we saw a number of food trends pop up around the city this year. Sarah Sussman highlighted four of these trends in this Smart Tip – why not get a little adventurous with your palate? [Photo credit: iStock]

The scale of the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival really is staggering – approximately 1,600 live shows across some 40 venues over an 11-day period. With numbers like that, the Fringe really promises something for everyone – and the 2017 edition didn’t disappoint. We can hardly wait for the 2018 iteration, running Aug. 16 to 26, 2018. [Photo courtesy of Fringe Theatre Adventures]

The Battle of Alberta that was the CFL West Division final lived up to the hype, in a high-scoring, competitive affair that saw the Eskimos fall just short to their bitter rival Calgary Stampeders. If there was a silver lining coming from the loss, it was the play of QB Mike Reilly, who set an Eskimos franchise record this season with 5,830 yards, surpassing Ricky Ray (5,663) and Warren Moon (5,648). [Photo courtesy of Edmonton Eskimos]

The new Walterdale Bridge finally opened to traffic in September after a two-year delay. Formerly the 105 Street Bridge, the new $155-million bridge spans the North Saskatchewan River and features two 56-metre arches, making it a distinctive and modern addition to Edmonton’s skyline. [Photo courtesy of Kurt Bauschardt/Flickr]

Edmonton’s dining scene continues to expand, with new eateries popping up on a near-weekly basis. It’s likely you weren’t able to keep track of them all in 2017 – thankfully, Sarah Sussman put together this Smart Tip of some of the great new restaurants you’ll want to check out soon. [Photo courtesy of Uryelle Dimailig/Die Pie]

It was a year to remember in Edmonton, with great new restaurants, exciting festivals and dramatic local news. Stay with us in 2018 as we continue to cover the top news in your city!