Best of Edmonton 2020 Revealed!

The results are here for the first Yegventures Best of Edmonton Awards! The year 2020 has been a challenging time for everyone, and this is a way for people to discover and support their favourite ‘Edmontonisms’ in the city.

Thanks to CBC Edmonton, this was featured on Radio Active with Adrienne Pan! Listen to the interview here.

From your nominations, 953 votes were submitted for the shortlisted selections to select the winners of the Yegventures Best of Edmonton 2020. Each category has a Yegventures pick as well.

Choose results by theme (or scroll down)

There are a LOT of categories, so we have separated it into voting themes below. Select by voting themes or view the original form responses here.

Arts, Festivals, & Entertainment

Personalities & Brands

Best locations

Local businesses & organizations (non food)

Best food

Arts, Festivals, & Entertainment

Best annual festival (which found a way to happen) – 608 responses

1. Heritage Festival – 41.1%
2. Fringe With Us All Year Long – 26.3%
3. Whyte Avenue Art Walk – 25.2% Yegventures pick
4. Kaleido On Tour 2020 – 7.4%

Best art exhibition – 588 responses

1. Whyte Avenue Art Walk – 46.4% Yegventures pick
2. Art Gallery of Alberta – 32%
3. Rust Magic Installations – 15.8%
4. Love Your Bean – 5.8%

Best public mural – 580 responses

1. Crush Beers Not Dreams in Old Strathcona – 41%
2. Wall of Encouragement/“Take arisk.” at 100 St Pl Bldg – 28.3%
3. Mural by Okuda San Miguel at Crawford Block – 19.5%
4. Murals at Manchester Square – 11.2%

Yegventures pick: Indigenous mural by Lance Cardinal at IKEA

Best drive-in event – 527 responses

1. Drive-in movies at Southgate/Mill Woods Town Centre – 35.1%
2. Brett Kissel Drive-In Concert – 33.6%
3. Spotlight Cabaret Burlesque – 26.6%
4. Green Scholars of Albertavehicle parade in Mill Woods

Yegventures pick: Pop-up food truck drive-in at Premium Outlet Collection.

Best concert – 511 responses

1. Brett Kissel Drive-In Concert – 43.4% Yegventures pick
2. Edmonton Ski Club Concert Series – 33.7%
3. Corb Lund Concert – 22.9%

Best theatre event – 507 responses

1. The Fringe Online – 72.4% Yegventures pick
2. Malachite Theatre’s Macbeth – 27.6%

Best pop-up one-time event – 524 responses

1. Pop-up food truck drive-in at Premium Outlet Collection – 42.9% Yegventures pick
2. Black-owned market atHabesha African Market – 42.2%
3. Art Hunt by Slavo Czech – 14.9%

Best online event – 491 responses

1. Pride – 44%
2. Malachite Theatre’s Macbeth – 20.2%
3. EPL’s Baby Laptime – 18.3%
4. Podfest – 17.5%

Yegventures pick: Festival of Trees 2020

Best Public Art – 585 responses

1. Bob & Doug McKenzie Sculpture – 47.2%
2. Eleven sculptures at Borden Park – 19.8% Yegventures pick
3. Carbon Copy in Brewery District – 15%
4. The Talus Dome – 15%

Most impactful artist – 543 responses

1. Lance Cardinal – 39%
2. Alex Janvier – 28.2%
3. Aaron Paquette – 23.9% Yegventures pick
4. AJA Louden – 8.8%

Best “pandemically” organized event – 488 responses

1. Sidewalk expansions on Whyte Avenue – 54.7%
2. Festival in a Box (Edmonton Arts Council) – 31.8%
3. ArchEdmonton Holy Mass livestreamed – 7%
4. Green Scholars of Alberta vehicle parade – 6.6%

Yegventures pick: EPCOR Zoominescence at Edmonton Valley Zoo

Personalities & Brands

Best Facebook page, community, or group – 447 responses

1. Historic Edmonton and Northern Alberta – 40.3% Yegventures pick
2. Humans of Edmonton Experience – 29.3%
3. North side hub – 15.4%
4. Yeg Covid – 15%

Best TikTok account – 399 responses

1. Janis Irwin – 44.4%
2. notoriouscree (James Jones) – 33.6% Yegventures pick
3. mshangryfoodie (Stephanie) – 17%
4. scurtisproductions (Scurtis) – 5%

Best Twitter account – 434 responses

1. Janis Irwin – 47.2%
2. iheartedmonton (I HeartEdmonton) – 42.9% Yegventures pick
3. pathsforppl (Paths for People) – 5.3%
4. Homeward Trust – 4.6%

Best Instagram account – 284 responses

1. coffee_and_baileys – 66.2%
2. chantellelourens – 13.4%
3. devineasonreal – 12.7%
4. collinjoseph_mayne – 7.7%

Yegventures pick: YegPixls

Best Instagram Food account – 391 responses

1. YEG Food Guide – 53.3%
2. letseatyeg – 27.6%
3. mshangryfoodie – 16.1%
4. jensnoms – 2.8%

Best Instagram conglomerate/community – 409 responses

1. Explore Edmonton – 53.5%
2. UrbanYEG – 23.5%
3. Yeggers – 14.7%
4. Instagramyeg – 8.3%

Best Etsy Account – 253 responses

1. Rise Protection – 51.8%
2. Lamose – 48.2%

Best Pinterest account – 272 responses

1. Find Edmonton – 100%

Best Reddit user from Edmonton subreddit – 287 responses

1. edmrealtor – 41.8%
2. Troypavley – 34.5%
3. walkingcasino – 23.7%

Best YouTube or video creator – 337 responses

1. Best Edmonton Mall – 50.1%
2. Curiosuty Inc. – 33.5%
3. Cassius Morris – 8.3%
4. Brian Holdsworth – 8%

Best mainstream media TV personality – 466 responses

1. Josh Classen – 38.8%
2. Gord Steinke – 36.5%
3. Min Dhariwal – 15.7%
4. Jesse Beyer – 9%

Best mainstream media radio personality – 513 responses

1. Ryan Jespersen – 51.9%
2. Garner Andrews – 19.5%
3. Adrienne Pan – 14.4%
4. Lauren Hunter – 14.2

Best news media organization – 585 responses

1. Global Edmonton – 35.7%
2. CBC Edmonton – 33.8%
3. CTV Edmonton – 18.8%
4. 630 CHED – 11.6%

Best podcast – 352 responses

1. Let’s Find Out – 34.7%34.4%
2. Hardboiled – 34.4%
3. Speaking Municipally – 22.4%
4. Randy King Live – 8.5%

Best local blog – 471 responses

1. Yegventures.ca – 29.5%
2. Linda-hoang.com – 29.5%
3. Iheartedmonton.ca – 20.8%
4. Onlyhereforthefood.ca – 17.6%

Best local politician – 605 responses

1. Janis Irwin – 48.6%
2. Don Iveson – 37.9%
3. Jon Dziadyk – 9.1%
4. Michael Walters – 4.4%

Best branding – 571 responses

1. Sea change brewingHabitat productsOilers Nation – 41%
2. Oilers Nation – 29.6%
3. Explore Edmonton – 24.3%
4. Habitat products – 5%

Best locations

Best day trip driving destination in Alberta from Edmonton – 614 responses

1. Elk Island National Park – 45.1%
2. Banff National Park – 33.2%
3. Abraham Lake/Kootenay Plains – 15%
4. Lacombe/Red Deer – 6.6%

Best lane-reduced area in the city – 512 responses

1. Whyte Avenue – 47.3%
2. Saskatchewan Drive – 20.3%
3. Victoria Promenade – 16.8%
4. Ada Boulevard – 14.3%
5. Victoria Trail – 1.3%

Best neighbourhood – 560 responses

1. Oliver/Brewery District – 36.8%
2. Old Strathcona – 35.7%
3. Ritchie – 21.6%
4. Mill Woods – 5.9%

Best lookout point (accessible in 2020) – 505 responses

1. Saskatchewan Drive – 41.6%
2. Connors Hill/Gallagher Park – 26.5%
3. Keillor Point – 20%
4. Queen Elizabeth Park – 11.9%

Most photogenic bridge – 555 responses

1. Walterdale Bridge – 60.2%
2. High Level Bridge – 26.3%
3. Tawatinâ Bridge – 9%
4. Dawson Bridge – 1.7%

Best walking/running trail – 471 responses

1. Mill Creek Ravine – 51.2%
2. Wilfred Laurier/Buena Vista Park – 25.5%
3. McKinnon Ravine – 14%
4. Commonwealth Walkway – 9.3%

Best bike trail – 373 responses

1. Mill Creek Ravine – 56.3%
2. McKinnon Ravine – 21.4%
3. Six Shooter – 11.5%
4. Commonwealth Walkway – 10.7%

Best place for portrait photos – 489 responses

1. Alberta Legislature – 49.5%
2. River Valley – 37.6%
3. Hermitage Park – 6.5%
4. Clifford E Lee Sanctuary – 6.3%

Best place to watch the sunrise – 455 responses

1. River valley – 42%
2. High Level Bridge – 31.9%
3. 100 Street Funicular/MacdonaldDrive – 16.5%
4. Anthony Hendy Drive – 9.7%

Best place to watch the sunset – 438 responses

1. Elk Island National Park – 40.4%
2. Keillor Point/End of the World – 34%
3. Victoria Promenade – 23.7%
4. Charlesworth – 1.8%

Best place for spring pictures – 367 responses

1. St. Albert Botanic Garden – 46.9%
2. Victoria Promenade – 40.9%
3. George F. Hustler Park – 7.6%
4. Irene Parlby Park – 4.6%

Best place for autumn pictures – 452 responses

1. Griesbach (97 Street) – 33.4%
2. Alberta Legislature – 29.6%
3. Government House Park – 21%
4. McTaggart Sanctuary – 15.9%

Best place to toboggan (accessible in 2020) – 391 responses

1. Rundle Park – 41.4%
2. Whitemud Park – 27.4%
3. Mill Woods Park – 17.6%
4. Griesbach Park – 13.6%

Best road or street to drive – 482 responses

1. Groat Road – 50%
2. Anthony Henday Drive – 31.7%
3. Whitemud Drive – 10.3%
4. Beaumont – 7.9%

Best bench or picnic table – 404 responses

1. Hawrelak Park – 51.7%
2. Victoria Promenade – 23.5%
3. Buena Vista Park – 13.6%
4. Buddy Benches in Holyrood – 11.1%

Best public park facilities – 443 responses

1. Hawrelak Park – 60.5%
2. Kinsmen Sports Centre – 23%
3. Jackie Parker Park – 9.5%
4. Alfred H. Savage Centre – 7%

Best gazebo – 436 responses

1. Muttart Conservatory grounds – 35.8%
2. Chinese Garden at Louise McKinney Park – 31.4%
3. Grant Notley Park – 23.2%
4. Dr. Wilbert McIntyre Park – 9.6%

Best natural area or park – 517 responses

1. Hawrelak Park – 42%
2. Mill Creek – 30%
3. Rundle Park – 18.6%
4. River Lot 56/Queen Elizabeth Park – 9.5%

Best outdoor recreation area – 474 responses

1. Hawrelak Park – 55.3%
2. Strathcona Wilderness Centre – 28.9%
3. The Meadows RecreationCentre – 8%
4. Forest Heights Park – 7.8%

Best skate park – 351 responses

1. Capilano Skate Park 144
2. Mill Woods Skate Park 79
3. Clareview Skate Park 79
4. Beaumont Skate Park 49

Best playground – 385 responses

1. Borden Park 143
2. Hawrelak Park 97
3. Jackie Parker Park 92
4. Grandin School Playground 53

Best off-leash area – 404 responses

1. Terwillegar Dog Park 293
2. Grand Trunk 80
3. Decoteau Park 26
4. Strathcona Science Provincial Park 5

Best boardwalk – 443 responses

1. Fort Edmonton Park 222
2. Saskatchewan Drive 130
3. Clifford E. Lee Sanctuary 51
4. McKenzie Ravine 40

Best lake – 459 responses

1. Pigeon Lake 195
2. Lake Beaumaris (Castle Downs) 109
3. Summerside 107
4. Deep Sea Adventure Lake (WEM) 48

Best LRT station or transit centre – 384 responses

1. Century Park TC – 50.8%
2. Stadium LRT station – 15.4%
3. The Meadows TC – 20.3%
4. Northgate TC – 13.5%

Best road-side attraction – 510 responses

Immense Mode (Shoes at Southgate TC)	43
Talus Dome	112
“Stanley” Stanley Cup sculpture by United Cycle	114
Bob and Doug McKenzie statue	241

Best urban design – 447 responses

The Manchester	89
Stanley A. Milner Library	131
Kȃhasinȋskȃk Bridge (over Connors Road)	121
100 Street Funicular and Frederick G. Todd Lookout	106

Best neighbourhood facelift/renovation – 504 responses

Jasper Avenue	95
Ritchie Market	287
Bonnie Doon	53
Garneau	69

Local businesses & organizations (non food)

Best essential goods store – 455 responses

H&W Produce	175
H-Mart	50
Re:Plenish	36
London Drugs	194

Best delivery service – 404 responses

InstaCart	62
Spud	76
UberEats	149
Doughnut Party	117

Best home delivery subscription service – 338 responses

YEG Coffee Club	100
Edmonton Journal	67
Good Food	75
The Organic Box	96

Best car maintenance service – 260 responses

Koch Lincoln Ford	30
Gateway Toyota	43
Good News Auto	72
OK Tire	115

Best home maintenance service – 236 responses

RMS	32
Dollarwise Plumbing	42
neighbourhood teenagers	107
McCormick Construction	55

Best public or private transportation service – 409 responses

Strathcona County Transit	44
Uber	166
ETS	165
DATS	34

Best clothing apparel or accessories store – 304 responsesB

Bamboo Ballroom	109
Justice	35
The Plaid Giraffe	131
Floc Boutique	29

Best Farmers’ Market – 521 responses

Bountiful Market	107
Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market	208
124 Street Grand Market	89
Downtown Farmers’ Market	117

Best utilities provider – 364 responses

Park Power	46
Epcor	318

Best photographer/digital media service – 287 responses

Curtis Comeau	84
Keith Moore	87
Crown	78
Adam Borsman	38

Best architectural/design/urban planning & design firm – 258 responses

Dialog Design	51
Gene Dub Associates	65
Manasc Isaac	69
L7	73

Best construction company – 288 responses

LaFarge	87
PCL	201

Best legal services – 303 responses

Andrew Cao	97
Latitude Family Law	74
Mccuaig Desrochers	63
Field Law	69

Best accounting service – 210 responses

Gadowsky & Associates	90
Mike Wilde Accounting	60
Liu & Associates	60

Best realtor – 260 responses

Sandy Pon	89
Camron Rahmanian (edmrealtor)	66
Jerry Aulenbach (zoomjer)	57
Christy Cantera Realty	48

Best stylist (hair/makeup/etc) – 218 responses

Mr. Barber	49
Stephanie Does Hair	61
Gentleman’s Barbershop	77
Black Pin Project	31

Best wedding planner – 208 responses

1. Ann-Maria Au – 100%

Best insurance company – 286 responses

1. AMA 135
2. Wawanesa 109
3. MHK 30
4. ARC Insurance 12

Best City of Edmonton facility (currently open) – 436 responses

Valley Zoo	191
Kinsmen Sports Centre	96
Commonwealth Sports Centre	71
Terwillegar Sports Centre	78

Best Edmonton tourist/staycation attraction (currently open) – 484 responses

West Edmonton Mall	136
Edmonton Valley Zoo	90
River Valley	249
Big E Edmonton Tours	9

Best shopping centre or commercial district – 513 responses

West Edmonton Mall	164
Old Strathcona	135
Londonderry Mall	35
124 Street	179

Best golf course – 331 responses

Highlands Golf Course	98
Victoria Golf Course	158
Mill Woods Golf Course	42
Glendale Golf Course	33

Best thrift store – 426 responses

Once Upon A Child	59
Find Edmonton	105
Old Strathcona Antique Mall	156
Value Village	106

Best inner-city agency – 411 responses

Boyle Street Co-Op	145
Marian Centre	16
The Mustard Seed	125
Bissell Centre	125

Best non-profit service (outside of inner-city services) – 452 responses

Catholic Social Services	33
Edmonton’s Food Bank	226
Edmonton Humane Society	142
Find Edmonton	51

Best fundraising campaign – 419 responses

Pump-Up (Paths for People)	34
Light the Midway (Fort Edmonton Foundation)	69
Valley Zoo 50/50 (Valley Zoo Development Society)	65
Oilers 50/50 (Oilers Foundation)	251

Best library – 421 responses

Stanley A. Milner Library	211
Capilano Libary	48
Mill Woods Library	38
University of Alberta libraries	124

Best local sports team – 478 responses

Edmonton Oilers	276
E-Ville Dead Roller Derby Team	115
Edmonton Riverhawks	26
Edmonton Football Club	61

Most beautiful church/religious place – 354 responses

St. George’s Ukrainian Catholic Church	57
St. Joseph’s Cathedral Basilica	222
Manning Drive Gurdwara	49
Christ Church Edmonton	26

Most ethical local business – 352 responses

Re:Plenish	59
The Nook	97
Earth’s General Store	167
Good News Auto	29

Business which invests the most into the community – 332 responses

Dil-E-Punjab	62
Find Edmonton	168
The Nook	102

Best overall business – 485 responses

Find Edmonton	50
Downtown Farmer’s Market	98
Italian Centre Shop	337

Best historic place/business we said goodbye to in 2020 – 446 responses

Planet Organic	120
The Minchau	47
Avenue Clothing	104
Prairie Noodle	175

Best food

Best pizza – 467 responses

Sepp’s Pizza	112
Big Bite Detroit Pizza	84
Love Pizza	167
Rosso Pizzeria	104

Best burger – 528 responses

Woodshed Burgers	150
Fox Burger	96
The Next Act	164
Five Guys Burgers and Fries	118

Best fine dining – 432 responsesV

Vaticano	53
Corso 32	137
Sabor	104
RGE RD	138

Best food truck – 382 responses

Drift	234
Little Village	72
Dedo’s	43
Sosyal Scoops	33

Most Edmonton food item – 568 responses

Green onion cakes	293
Donairs	175
Pizza	54
Burgers	46

Best green onion cake – 400 responses

Green Onion Cake Man	316
Freson Bros. Father Dough green onion cake	43
Midnight Sun	28
Veggie House Cilantro Cake	13

Best donair – 363 responses

Nikki’s Donair (Westmount Mall)	35
High Voltage	93
Swiss Donair	161
Donair Stop	74

Best butter chicken – 355 responses

All India	60
Remedy Cafe	139
Dil-E-Punjab	55
Guru	101

Best noodles (ramen/pho/etc) – 347 responses

Volcano	46
Tau Bay	25
Tokiwa Ramen	115
Pho Hoan Pasteur	161

Best fried chicken – 529 responses

Northern Chicken	345
SFC (Seoul Fried Chicken)	129
AFC (Alberta Fried Chicken)	27
Texas Fried Chicken (Burger Baron)	28

Best diner – 500 responses

Route 99	117
Commodore	41
High Level Diner	213
Blue Plate	129

Best ice cream/frozen treat – 420 responses

Scoop and Roll	86
Made by Marcus	116
Yelo’d	70
Kind Ice Cream	148

Best cocktail – 375 responses

Spotlight Cabaret	48
Woodwork/Clementine	148
Hansen Distillery	132
Sassy and Classy (at Pip)	47

Best mocktail (available to order) – 296 responses

Lavender Iced Tea (White Spot)	59
Virgin Mojito (Brown’s Social House)	55
Virgin Caesars with food (Cilantro and Chive)	91
Cotton Candy Crush (Cilantro and Chive)	91

Best local beer – 502 responses

Arcadia	58
Analog brewing company	174
Alley Kat	192
Sugar Bowl	78

Best local wine – 238 responses

1. The Wine Room – 100%

Best Indian food – 345 responses

Guru	118
Remedy Cafe	103
Rasoi	28
Little India	96

Best Chinese food – 386 responses

Good Buddy (Granville)	86
Shanghai 456	64
Jumbo	35
The Lingnan	201

Best Filipino food303 responses

Jollibee	82
Filistix	110
Seafood City	29
98 Kanto	82

Best Latin or Mexican food – 465 responses

El Mariachi	49
Tres carnales	245
La Patrona	53
Three Amigos	118

Best Arab or Lebanese food – 304 responses

Sunbake Pita	80
Sofra	96
Al Salam Pita	82
Turquaz kebab	46

Best Japanese food – 369 responses

Furusato	43
Japonais Bistro	119
Kazoku Ramen	62
Mikado	145

Best Korean food – 291 responses

Hanjan	114
Buok	85
Lee House	92

Best Vietnamese food – 343 responses

Pagolac (Argyll)	69
Pho Hoan Pasteur	156
Phobulous	73
Nah Trang	45

Best Indigenous food – 285 responses

1. Native Delights – 100%

Best African food – 279 responses

Awash	32
Koultures Afro-Continental	41
Langano Skies	176
Zuhur	30

Best Italian food – 347 responses

Uccelino	90
Corso 32	147
Vaticano	71
Nuovo	39

Best German food – 356 responses

Bauernschumaus	67
Bistro Praha	97
German Cultural Centre	74
Otto	118

Best Ukrainian/Polish food – 331 responses

Uncle Ed’s	145
Baltyk Bakery	36
Shumka	91
Yo Baba	59

Best Southern food – 475 responses

Have Mercy	43
Louisiana Purchase	90
MEAT	173
DaDeO	169

Best local fast food – 390 responses

Y Not Indian	43
My Fries	46
Local Omnivore	148
Burger Baron	153

Best food subscription service – 290 responses

YEG Coffee Club	85
Organic Box	66
Good Food	63
Secret Meat Club	76

Best dessert – 443 responses

Fife n Deckel	138
Italian Centre Shop	181
Baltyk Bakery	19
Art of Cake	105

Best new restaurant (opened since March) – 340 responses

Hanjan Oliver	67
Rosewood	76
South Africa Curry Bowl	49
Peter’s Drive In	148

Best new dessert cafes (opened since March) – 269 responses

Bambu	37
Waffles on Main	124
Sweethoney Dessert	36
La Bosco	72

Best coffee – 423 responses

Credo	93
Leva	30
Transcend	171
Little Brick	129

Best bakery/cafe – 493 responses

La Boule	90
Duchess	358
Reinette cafe	21
La Bosco	24

Best brewery – 500 responses

Situation Brewery	111
Analog Brewery	156
Alley Kat	169
Yellowhead Brewery	64

Best pub – 465 responses

The Next Act	191
Pub 1905	46
Black Dog	122
Sherlock’s	106

Best brunch restaurant – 441 responses

Tiramisu Bistro	101
De Dutch	108
OEB	120
Pip	112

Best pop-up food event – 293 responses

Food Truck Drive-thru at Premium Outlet Collection	79
Fast Wheelin’ Food Truck Fest	75
Food Truck Drive-thru at Kingsway Mall	139

Best summer patio – 436 responses

Central Social Hall	62
The Common	49
Sea Change	91
Hotel Macdonald	234

Best winter patio – 412 responses

1. Cafe bicyclette – 33.7%
   The Next Act – 33.7%
2. Little Brick  – 32.5%

Best food court – 428 responses

1. West Edmonton Mall – 48.1%
2. LondonderryKingsway Mall – 26.9%
3. Edmonton City Centre – 15.2%
4. Londonderry – 9.8%

Best take-home ready to bake/eat meals – 363 responses

1. Sunterra – 46.6%
2. Hello Fresh – 24.2%
3. Art of Charcuterie – 20.7%
4. Millwoods Seniors Association – 8.5%

Best local farm (products) – 381 responses

1. Bountiful Farmers Market – 8.6%
2. Irvings Farms – 37.3%
3. Sunworks – 19.9%
4. Fifth Gen Gardens – 4.2

Best vegetarian – 401 responses

1. Padmanadi – 53.4%
2. Moth Cafe – 21.2%
3. Die Pie – 16.5%
4. Veggie Garden – 9%

Best restaurant for accommodating dietary needs – 357 responses

1. Padmanadi – 37.5%
2. High Level Diner – 36.7%
3. Die Pie – 16.8%
4. An Chay – 9%

Restaurant with best bathroom – 285 responses

1. Padmanadi – 41.4%
2. Teddy’s – 34.7%
3. Nuovo Bistro – 23.9%

Best restaurant which feeds the hungry – 297 responses

1. Dil-E-Punjab – 100%

Restaurant with the best pandemic safety measures – 460 responses

1. Northern Chicken – 68.7%
2. Seoul Fried Chicken – 12.4%
   Kind Ice Cream – 12.4%
3. Dream Tea – 6.5%