Top 10 most-read stories of 2020

CALGARY – There was no shortage of news in 2020, from the Iranian plane crash to the U.S. election to, of course, the pandemic.

But what were the stories that resonated with you, our readers, most?

We took a look at our website analytics and these were our most-read stories of 2020.

1. Health experts call for shift in COVID strategy, say current track is ‘a fool’s errand’

As the first wave petered off and Canadians had seemingly flattened the curve, it came time to look forward to the second wave expected to arrive sometime in the fall.

In July, a group of 18 prominent health experts in Canada, including the two previous chief public health officers of Canada, called on the federal and provincial governments to change their strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The group called for an end to attempts to eliminate the coronavirus, instead advocating for an approach where Canadians would learn to live with it.

They sent a letter to the government telling them to further relax lockdown measures and not return to the Phase 1-style restrictions we saw in the spring, even if there is a second wave.

2. Calgary moms warn about creepy grocery store trips

At the beginning of November, a handful of Calgary moms said they’ve been followed and asked weird questions about their very young children on recent trips to the grocery store.

Chante said she was at the Westbrook Walmart, in the southwest, when she noticed a man watching her strap her four-month-old son into his stroller.

“As I was getting my son out of the car, I realized he was staring a little more intensely and my mommy intuition tingled. I saw him waiting for me at the handicap parking spot, and I crossed over two parking spots to avoid him and walked into the store.”

At the time, Calgary police said officers were aware of reports but there was no open investigation.

3. McDonald’s announces closures across Canada

It was a matter of days after Canada saw the beginning of its bout with the pandemic when governments declared states of emergency and lockdown measures were put into place across the country.

McDonald’s announced in March that it would be closing its restaurants to customers, leaving only delivery orders or drive-thrus as the only way for people to get their Big Mac fix.

It came about a week after the company announced it would be blocking off seating areas.

McDonald’s said the move is due to the guidance of health authorities, as well as employees and customers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Starbucks also made similar moves closing storefronts this weekend while still offering delivery.

4. ‘Today is not a good day’: Calgary ring road opening carries mixed emotions

On Oct. 1, a segment of the southwest ring road opened up in Calgary.

But a planned day of celebration was derailed when an Indigenous man walked up to the podium and shared what the completion of the ring road meant for him and his family.

“I am going to speak, and you are going to listen,” said Seth Cardinal Dodginghorse.

“Today is not a good day. I woke up this morning to see my mother crying when she heard the news that this road was going to be opening.”

WATCH: Seth Cardinal Dodginghorse’s full speech

After Dodginghorse completed his 10-minute speech, he made one last display of his personal sense of loss.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pair of scissors. Raising them to his head, he cut off his braids and tossed them on to the pavement.

5. Edmonton gas attendant unknowingly pays for celebrity’s mother’s gas

A woman who was struggling to buy gas at a Costco gas station with a dysfunctional credit card in May was no doubt pleased when attendant Les Thompson offered to pay for it.

With only the request that she pay it forward, Thompson unknowingly paid for Nathan Fillion’s mother’s gas.

Edmonton-born Fillion posted the story on Instagram, commended the attendant’s graciousness.

“That woman was my mother. (Les restored) my faith in humanity.”

In his own way of “paying it forward”, Fillion said he sending a trio of iPads and headphones to a nearby senior care centre so others can visit their families during the pandemic.

“Right now, we could all stand to be a little less afraid, and a little more Les.”

6. Cracking up for a cheeky sign

A billboard for Canadian Tire’s garden centre displayed south of Edmonton raised some eyebrows and elicited some giggles over the summer.

Rachel Pasay and her husband were heading home from a property they were trying to sell when they noticed something funny with the sign–a big butt crack. They shared a picture on Facebook, and well, you know the rest.

The company admitted to being behind the gag.

“The billboard for our Canadian Tire garden centre in Leduc was meant to be lighthearted in nature. I change up the message on the billboard frequently and this time I wanted to bring a smile to those passing by,” read a statement from a Canadian Tire spokesperson.

“The billboard has been up for over a month and I’m surprised people didn’t notice it sooner. It will be changed out soon and I’m not sure what will go up next, but I hope people will look out for it.”

But months later, one question remains: whose asset is that?

7. ‘Stay safe and stay home:’ new automated robocall going around

Over the summer Canadians were getting a new kind of robocall. No, wasn’t a CRA scam or someone claiming you owe money only payable by gift cards. It was an automated voice saying, “Stay home. Stay safe and stay home.”

A weird new kind of #robocall is making its rounds. It's not the traditional phony CRA scam, or someone demanding you pay a ridiculous fine in several $25 gift cards, instead it's an automated voice telling you to "Stay home. Stay safe and stay home." I got one in my voicemail: pic.twitter.com/R22TIsiGcA

— Saif Kaisar (@StaySaif) August 13, 2020

Many people on social media reported getting the call, some saying they got it as early as May.

Several police departments told 660 NEWS they aren’t investigating the calls as there is no criminal element behind them.

It’s still unclear who is behind the mystery robocall.

8. Man returns trash found on his rural property at Calgary home, fined for illegal dumping

In May, a man who lives just south of Calgary arrived home to find someone had dumped garbage on his property.

When police and bylaw officers told him there was nothing they could do, he tracked down the owner of the garbage using documents he found in the trash.

Andrew Thomas said he knocked on the door to confront the woman living at the home who didn’t want to help resolve the situation.

“Her demeanor and attitude changed instantly and she wanted nothing to do with me.”

That’s when he packed up the garbage and dumped it back on her property. As a result, he was fined for illegal dumping but said he would fight the ticket.

CPS would later open an investigation into the woman who apparently dumped her garbage on Thomas’ land.

9. Police investigating reports of attempted abduction outside northeast Calgary gym

A 22-year-old woman says she was in the parking lot of Gold’s Gym along Country Hills Boulevard on Halloween when the door of a van parked next to her, opened.

She alleges a man wearing black with a red bandana emerged from the van and attempted to pull her inside.

Police opened an investigation and began looking for a man and an older dark blue Dodge Caravan.

The news came shortly after CityNews brought you the story of Chante – a mom who felt she was being followed when in the Westbrook Walmart parking lot — the situation leaving her rattled.

Calgary police could not confirm if the two cases were related.

10. Albertans disappointed after being kicked out of B.C. park

With any hopes of international travel being nipped in the bud by COVID-19, the summer of 2020 say more Canadian than ever heading to the backcountry and exploring their own backyard.

In June, a group of Albertans looking to enjoy one of B.C.’s provincial parks, only to be told to leave–even being threatened with arrest and being kicked out of the province.

Alexey Gorozhalov and his camping group went out to White Swan Provincial Park.

When they arrived, he says the park’s operator wasn’t clear on the rules and let them in any way. However, less than 24 hours later, the park’s operator and police asked them to leave.

The operator told Gorozhalov and his group they were being evicted for causing a disturbance. While police told them they could be arrested if they didn’t pack up.

“We want to ensure British Columbians have access to summer vacation opportunities close to home, so we are limiting new reservations to B.C. residents,” read a statement from B.C. Parks on the matter.

“(We’re) disappointed because we go there every year for the last seven years at least three-four times a year,” said Gorozhalov.

“They don’t like Albertans there, that’s what I would say.”

-with files from CityNews and 660 NEWS staff