It’s kind of hard to believe, but one year ago, Mike and I, after passing the blogging licence exams, started up the Charrette.

Looking back – Baby, It’s Cold Outside: Embracing our winter city – Dec 3 2010

We started blogging because we saw a need for another voice advocating for good urban design in the city. We thought, and still think, that Edmonton is in a very exciting place, a time that will shape the future of the city for decades.

Some of it is going well. Some of it isn’t. And while we’ve had our fair share of misses over the past 12 months, we like to think that we’ve done what we’ve set out to do: to push good urban design, provide some fresh perspectives and to raise some issues that might not appear anywhere else.

Looking back – Your New Walterdale Bridge – March 22 2011

Of course, we haven’t done it alone. So, we want to use this opportunity to say thanks to the people who have made the blog what it is.

Thanks to our readers and commenters: This blog wouldn’t be the success that it is without the intelligent, passionate audience that we have. Those of you who have commented on our articles, bringing your own thoughts and suggestions (not to mention calling us out when we’ve been off the mark) have made this blog into something bigger than just a sounding board for Mike and I.

Looking Back- The Sprawlette: April Fool’s Issue – April 1, 2011

Thank you to the people have helped spread our work through word of mouth, social media and your own blogs. It can be hard to get word out for a new publication, but Edmonton has a fantastic community of bloggers, citizen journalists and other new media types. And we’ve certainly benefited from the attentions and advice of better bloggers.

And, of course, I can’t close without thanking the talented guest posters that we’ve had on the blog. They’ve brought up issues that we would have never have thought and have made the Charrette more of a community. So, thank you very much to Paul Giang, Duncan Kinney, Colton Kirsop, Matthew Townley, Zoe Todd, and Kevin Kossowan. In the same vein, thank you to the many, many talented shutterbugs that have added their work to the Charrette Photo Pool, giving us all a peek at some of the more interesting places around our fair city. (We’ve got plans to do a bit of a round-up of our favourite shots this last year.)

Looking Back- 76 ave and 106 street bike lanes – Sept 21 2011

Finally, Mike and I are bouncing around the idea of having a little get together for the blog. A chance for some of the writers, commenters and readers to get together for an evening of chatting and coffee. Is there any interest in that kind of thing? If so, let us know and maybe we can get this ball rolling.

So, once again. thank you for everyone who has helped us get the Charrette up and running. It’s been a fun year and we look forward to another exciting year.

The Charrette,

Scott Lilwall and Mike Otto

Photo of Edmonton at night by Matthew Sharp from the Charrette Photo Pool.